Driving the road to change
For some individuals, changing a lifestyle is not always easy, especially in an incarcerated setting like Central California Women’s Facility. There are so many things that can deter an individual from doing the right thing. But for some, living a life of positivity and continual growth comes easy.
Kimberly Vega is a 36-year-old who, prior to her incarceration, tended to be reckless. She grew up on the streets and got involved in gang activity and drug use. This lifestyle led her to CCWF where she met her peer mentor, Serina Mendoza. Mendoza encouraged her that, no matter the situation or circumstance, she can live right and do the right thing. Vega said, “After living a life full of loss, I realized that I needed to change in order to put my life back together.” This change allows her to be selfless and take time to understand others.
30-year-old Jazmine Paramo has been incarcerated for seven years. When she first arrived to CCWF, she was influenced by others’ negative behavior. She became codependent and was struggling to find herself. Approximately five years ago, Paramo began to apply the lessons she learned from the self-help groups and aligned herself with individuals who maintained positive attitudes. Today, Paramo is no longer in denial and is able to accept responsibility for the things that she has done. “There is always someone willing to listen and asking for help is not always a bad thing,” Paramo said.
“The road to change will not end, it is a life long journey,” said Heather Armstrong. She is 44 and has been incarcerated for six years. Before that, she did things with zero accountability and lived in her addiction. She described what she called “a pen-drop moment” that changed her thought process. During an programming interview, Armstrong was asked “what are you responsible for?” And she responded, “a car accident.” The interviewer stopped her and dropped a pen on the floor and said, “that was an accident,” to show Armstrong that her case was much more than that. The pivotal moment caused her to look at her life. She is now able to think things through with an open mind and has learned to be accountable.
Jalin Blocker has been incarcerated since the age of 18 and is now 50. When he first arrived to CCWF, he was quiet and reserved. He realized that people were not there for him the way he was for them. He has slowly stepped out from behind the shadows in an effort to mediate and to show others that violence is not the answer. Blocker said, “put yourselves in someone else’s shoes and look at things from different perspectives. Don’t be so quick to pass judgement.” Over time, he transitioned to having a healthy communication style and resolving situations positively.
Jennifer Xavier is 26 years old and has only been at CCWF for five years. Her life outside was not a healthy one; she did things with no thought of consequence. She arrived at CCWF timid, isolated, and enjoyed being alone. Maria Franco was her peer role model and facilitator. Xavier credits Franco for creating safe spaces for conversations. Today, Xavier sets healthy boundaries for herself and has become a responsible individual. Xavier wants to encourage people that “change can be uncomfortable, but it is worth it. Sometimes you can feel lost and still be on the right path.”
When Asiah Hines first arrived to CCWF, she was scared and intimidated. The lack of guidance growing up made it easier for her to be a follower instead of a leader. She is 29 years old and has been incarcerated for 11 years. An incident in 2024 caused her to reflect on unaddressed childhood trauma. After that, she started to take baby steps to find her authentic self. Hines found her self-worth and changed her surroundings. Today, she has a voice and confidence. Different opportunities and doors have been opened which have set the stage for new growth not only for herself but for others as well. Hines wanted everyone to know this simple thing: “keep your eye on the prize, you got this!”
