Rising Stars: Meet Adam Grant

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Grant. 

Hi Adam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Nearly 30 years ago I stood in a courtroom and was referred to as a “terrorist” as I was sentenced to 27 to 50 years for a Bank Robbery and 2 for felony firearm. Still, I walked out of the courtroom “un-phased” because the numbers were surreal and the only thing, I felt had changed about my life was the location. It wasn’t until I hit quarantine, and segregation in quarantine, that I started to understand what those numbers meant. If I earned all my disciplinary credits, I could find my way back out to society in a little over 23 years. 

So, I straddled the fence, not sure how to navigate the new world that was my environment for the next “30 years”, but I tried some things on. I got involved in some self-help groups, Warden’s Forum, and some advocacy groups. I realized it only made sense that since I obviously could negatively impact lives if I worked at it, I could positively impact them. I put in work to pull some of the best parts out of myself. I put what I found into practice because practice doesn’t make perfect but it does make permanent. And about 10 years in I went 10 toes down on this side of the fence, living a life free of substances, free of criminality…FREE! 

I was released from prison January of 2020 after serving 27 years. I found my way through a pandemic, a technological learning curve, part-time work, housing discrimination, and unconscious stigmas that I felt the need to speak into. I faced all those things understanding how blessed I was to have the support of my fiancée and our family. I also quickly realized that I was blessed with privilege(s) bestowed upon me by society that were neither earned or warranted. I am a middle-aged white male in the United States of America. Realizing that, and balancing it with the headwinds I did face as a result of my criminal history, I consciously decided to use this to the advantage of others and speak into spaces that needed this message. 

This understanding that “I was the product” I had to sell and that I needed to “show up” opened doors for me. I was hired as a Certified Peer Recovery Coach by Parkside Family counseling approximately 3 months (and 30 interviews) after my release. This led to the Jackson Area Recovery Community Coordinator position for Home of New Vision. It was in this interview that I was seen for what I had overcome and what I had become, instead of purely what I had done, and it was expressed by the CEO when she said, “Do you know you are a miracle?” This position, coupled with working with Nation Outside drew the attention of several in the Criminal Justice Reform circles, including those at A Brighter Way. So, when their Executive Director position was vacated, they made some inquiries, interviewed me, and ultimately hired me for the position. 

So here I am, 30 years after that courtroom, the Executive Director of A Brighter Way, working with people in similar situations to that which I was in less than 3 years ago, as a graduate of a National Leadership cohort; Just Leadership USA’s “Leading with Conviction”, as a productive member of my community, and as an integral part of my family. An example of what is possible, an example of Reentry through Relationship, and an example that there truly is A Brighter way and it needs your light! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since I have been home my transition has been pretty seamless but not necessarily smooth. Smooth in comparison to the terrain I traveled the previous decades of my life. But so much of the particulars of day-to-day living out here had to be learned. Prison does little to mimic the society its inhabitants will be released back into. So there has been a learning curve which you can either approach with the attitude and appetite of the opportunity it is or with one that frames it with how far behind you are. I chose the former and believe I caught up much quicker than I would have had I taken the latter approach. 

I have faced employment discrimination in the form of laws, policies, and even just practices. I have faced housing discrimination that is legally sanctioned and cares more about documented mistakes in my past than how I have overcome them. I had to face many of the pitfalls of reentry without a guide and this is why I feel I am destined for this work. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A Brighter Way’s cornerstone is our mentoring program. Ideally, someone returning from incarceration, or even suffering from the collateral consequences of incarceration several years later, is paired with 2 people from the community. First, with Reentry Peer Mentor, which is someone who has been formerly incarcerated and has navigated the choppy waters of reentry. Second, we like to pair them with a Reentry Mentor (not formerly incarcerated) who may share particular interests or desired strengths of our mentees. This is a strength-based model that works side-by-side with the individuals on their goals and needs. 

A product of this relationship spawns “individualized wraparound” services. These can cover any number of needs, with the most prominent being stable housing, gainful employment, and supportive social circles, to name but a few. 

What I am most proud of is also what sets us apart from others. We are open to anyone who has previously been incarcerated, which is not the case with more specialized agencies. If you are willing to work with us then we are willing to work with you. We believe in reciprocal relationships so we learn from everyone who works with us. We are a community and every member lends their light to A Brighter Way. 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I learned that the skills I have learned over the course of my life are transferrable. The ability to adapt and pivot is a valuable skill if it is employed in conscious ways towards definable goals. I learned that a paradox mindset is an important tool to view the world and people. I have learned “and thinking” is need in the world and needs to be injected in more of our conversations. And I have learned what it means to be a unique resource in the world (we all are) and to express that. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abrighterway.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abrighterway_org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abrighterway
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/abwmentoring
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGQv7lOkblBz33KOcIXxY_Q