For 15 years, GEO Reentry Services has quietly helped people on probation in Kern County rebuild their lives. This month, the reentry program celebrated a milestone: 22 new graduates, each with a story of struggle, perseverance, and hope.
The GEO Reentry program isn’t just about staying out of jail. It’s about learning how to live—really live—in a way that feels meaningful, and for many, for the very first time. Program Manager Elisabeth Valencia says the journey isn’t always easy. “A lot of the times they don’t have a support system outside of the program,” she explains. “So, it makes it hard to build trust. The interactions start off with yes, no, uh huh kind of comments. Then when they get comfortable, they start to tell us about their day, getting a new job, seeing their kids. All those wonderful connections are very rewarding.”
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The curriculum goes way beyond the classroom. Instead, it’s a toolkit for daily life. Alejandro L., one of the 22 graduates, puts it simply: “I’ve learned that I’m worth the change. If I can do it, anyone can do it. It’s possible. You are better than you think you are.”
Another graduate, Leo E., says his favorite class was called “Thinking for Change.” The lesson? Don’t just act — pause and consider the consequences. “In everyday life, you have to think before you act. If you act before thinking, you may mess up and find yourself either back in jail or violating probation. Thinking for Change has taught me to think about my actions, and to change the way I think.”
Family support was a theme among this group of graduates. Lopez says his family’s faith in him kept him going. “What encouraged me the most was my family. They stuck with me through my worst times. For me it felt like they fought and were there through my struggles and my ups-and-downs. So now I want to fight to give them a future.”
One of the most remarkable things about the GEO Reentry program is that support doesn’t end at graduation. Valencia says that many alumni keep coming back, even when attendance is no longer mandatory. “A lot of the times we have people come in for years after program completion. They are no longer required to come in, but they come in to do groups or speak with their case manager. Our services don’t stop just because they are no longer on our roster.”