Miguel grew up in a pretty bad neighborhood in Santa Ana, where he witnessed drive-by shootings and other gang violence, drug sales and extreme poverty. Despite this, his parents worked hard to protect Miguel and his siblings from the influences of the street. Miguel did well in school; he attended regularly and was on track…

Michelle Arcos is 23 years old. She and her three siblings grew up in Santa Ana. Their parents were very careful and whenever the neighborhood started getting rough, they would move to a new apartment. At 16, she started working to help support her family. When she graduated from high school, she knew that she…

Dolly’s childhood was not easy. Four of her five older brothers were gang members, who spent most of their lives cycling in and out of jail. Drugs and street violence were normal and all that she ever knew. “Growing up, I had no hope,” explains Dolly. She recalls one Fourth of July weekend, when things…

Daniel is a good example of someone who took a circuitous route to landing on his feet. After high school, he married his pregnant girlfriend and tried to piece together a life for his wife and newborn son. He worked two minimum-wage jobs to try to make ends meet. He couldn’t afford a car, so…