Author: T.M. Gray
Chanise is the sixth generation of her family to call Colorado home. Growing up in Denver, she dreamed of becoming an artist and helping young people see different possibilities. In her youth, she was surrounded by a supportive family and community. But after turning 18, her life took a painful turn as she drifted toward the wrong crowd, leading to a decade-long journey in and out of jail, a struggle with unstable housing, substance use, and toxic relationships that many women in these circumstances fall victim to.
“It was heartbreaking,” she says. Though her family and friends knew her to be smart, loyal, and hardworking, Chanise struggled to understand why she couldn't break the cycle and provide the stability she had known as a child. The complexity of her daily life made even simple tasks dangerous, as she desperately tried to avoid the people and environments tied to her past.
Eventually, trusting the smart young woman she always knew herself to be, she made a life-changing decision: to enter an intensive recovery program. Spending seven months in treatment meant confronting not just substance use, but the heavy web of relationships surrounding it—and finding the courage to reach back out to people she had repeatedly disappointed.
“I don’t want to live that way anymore,” she remembers realizing.
Recovery didn't instantly fix everything. Chanise still needed identification, a driver's license, stable housing, and safe transportation, sometimes relying on rental scooters to navigate her world without crossing paths with her past. But most importantly, she kept reaching out. Her program required her to apologize to the people she had let down. In a full-circle moment at a recovery program, she ran into a young woman she used to look up to—someone who had also cleaned up her life and was now employed by the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), an organization that doesn’t judge individuals for their criminal justice backgrounds.
Seeing someone she once knew in one life now thriving in another made recovery and employment feel tangible. “I need to help myself,” Chanise thought. “I want to help myself too”.
She enrolled with CEO, which offered her transitional employment while helping her pursue permanent work. This gave her hope. More than hope, it gave her daily income. While working on crews for several months, she received assistance with applications, professional development, and certifications. Though she still faced practical hurdles like using rental scooters to get to work, earning her own money changed something fundamental. After years of depending on others, Chanise realized she could provide for herself. She no longer needed to depend on unhealthy relationships or couch surf. CEO gave her a glimpse of independence and a boost of confidence she has no intention of letting go.
“I don’t have to live with the minimum anymore,” she says. What stayed with her most was knowing the CEO staff were invested in more than just a workday—they wanted to see her do everything she could. Today, Chanise works full-time as a production assistant at an organization that provides job training and employment to women facing significant barriers. Through an advocacy program at CEO, she participated in legislative discussions and discovered that her lived experience could help inform policies for others coming home behind her.
Perhaps the most profound transformation happened at home. After rebuilding her relationship with her son, she realized that working full-time—though bittersweet after spending so much time together—actually makes her a better mom. Her advice to other women rebuilding their lives comes straight from her own journey: don't go back to the familiar people, places, and things that hurt you, and understand that taking care of yourself isn't selfish.
Treatment helped Chanise choose recovery, recovery led her to CEO, employment gave her independence, and advocacy has given her a voice. The girl who once imagined helping her community has found her way back to that dream, carrying the strength of her lived experience.
“I’m happy,” Chanise says. “So much happier now”.
