Success Stories: Fabian M.

When Fabian M. stepped up to the stage to address the guests attending STRIVE’s 2005 annual gala at the United Nations building in New York City, the first words out of his mouth were: "Wow. I can’t believe I’m here. Five years ago I could never have imagined myself standing in the United Nations, in a tuxedo, speaking before 300 of the most well-dressed people I’ve ever seen."

Fabian’s sense of disbelief was not hard to comprehend: A little over five years ago, he had been homeless, jobless, on drugs and with a criminal record. He also had a young son who he hardly ever saw. Like many of our clients, Fabian had had a hard life. Having lost his father when he was 12, he had grown up as a ward of the state in a residential center because his mother was battling problems of her own and could not take care of her seven children. These hardships had taken their toll: As a young adult, Fabian found himself hopelessly adrift. He had no steady job and no place to live.

Having heard of STRIVE from a friend, Fabian decided to give it a try. It was not easy. "They had told me there were all these rules I had to follow," recalls Fabian. "I didn’t believe them. But they were serious. They didn’t put up with my attitude." He walked out after about a week.

Although he had quit STRIVE’s core job-readiness workshop, he joined our fatherhood program. "If I knew anything, it was that I wanted something better for my son," he says.

He eventually returned to the four-week core program, and on the second try, was able to complete it successfully. But there were still problems to overcome. Although STRIVE placed him in jobs, he could not hold on to them because of a lingering sense of entitlement. "I wasn’t ready to accept the fact that I had to earn my way in the world," he acknowledges.

Through all these ups and downs, Fabian kept in touch with STRIVE staff. "When I didn’t know where else to turn, they were there for me" he recalls. "They continued to believe in me."

After going through a drug treatment and rehabilitation program, Fabian was finally ready to turn his life around. STRIVE helped him find a job at a Pathmark supermarket. A STRIVE social worker helped him qualify for a subsidized living space in March of 2005. "It’s just one room but to me, it’s a castle…my castle," says Fabian. "It’s the most beautiful place on earth. It’s the first place of my own I’ve ever had. And I’m paying for it. And it feels great."

As Fabian’s story shows, change is slow and painful and accumulative. But it is also a testament to the truth that with individual determination, coupled with crucial, focused help from STRIVE’s array of services, shattered lives can indeed be rebuilt.

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