Stockton re-entry service staff gotta have passion to help rebuild lives after prison

Antonio Hernandez, a case manager at Friends Outside in Stockton, helps formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives through comprehensive support services. The nonprofit recently hosted a resource fair to encourage community engagement and aid those impacted by incarceration. Drawing from his experiences growing up in a gang-affiliated neighborhood, Hernandez focuses on teaching positive parenting in environments plagued by violence. Friends Outside provides mental health resources, housing assistance, and peer support to help individuals transition back into society. Executive Director Michael Sorensen highlighted the necessity of learning from past mistakes and moving forward.

The organization also seeks to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, emphasizing the importance of family support. Hernandez's own background, including the absence of his father due to incarceration, fuels his passion for helping others. With 14 years of experience working with former gang members, he remains dedicated to guiding his community toward a better future.