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Instilling Change: James Falkner

  • Apr 9, 2024
  • 2 min read

Kansas City has many attractions -some good, some bad. James Falkner grew up in the 90’s in Kansas City and lived a good life. He grew up in a well-rounded family, and even though life wasn’t the best, it had its beautiful moments. James lived with his mother and siblings and was loved and supported by his family. However, he wanted more than what was provided. James felt that others around him had a “flashier” lifestyle -the best clothes, shoes, and cars. He was drawn toward this type of life. In his teens, James made a life altering decision to engage in the fast life. Things seemed to be going fine until two days before his 18th birthday in 1996, when he would be arrested and incarcerated for 19 years.


To make his time go by faster during incarceration, James moved around from camp to camp (prison to prison) in the state of Missouri. It was his mother’s passing during his time in prison that set him on the straight and narrow path. With the support of his grandmother and siblings, James decided to obtain his GED, take a few computer courses, and to pay it forward. Using the resources he had during his time locked up, James spent a fair amount of time reading and researching ways to improve his life upon release.  He was determined to stay out of trouble and come home with a better version of himself.


James heard about the Second Chance (SC) program while incarcerated. In 2020, James was released and began his journey with Second Chance. The information and resources he received on job placement skills and how to maintain life proved to be beneficial. Not only did James manage to gain employment, but he also obtained his Class B CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) through the resources that his SC Resource Specialist (RS) gave him. James stated, “The RS really does care, and didn’t leave me out in the cold.” He was fortunate to receive continued encouragement from his RS, along with his family members. The empathy the RS showed James was not manufactured, it was sincere.


With his newfound freedom and career as a truck driver, James was soon able to get his home furnished with the help and resource connections from Second Chance. One the biggest barriers James says he had, was realizing he could not blame anyone but himself. He learned that taking accountability and making the right choices was key. James stated that the advice he would give to someone in his former situation is that “It’s not worth it. Think before you act. There is always a better way.”


Due to his choices when he was younger, James had always felt that he was dumb. He noted that if he had heard he is “not stupid and he is cable,” this would have helped him heal and change much quicker. Currently, James is taking advantage of his Class B CDL and enjoys his peaceful life, staying out of the mix of the fast life. He is currently a homeowner and is soon to be the father of a baby girl.

 

9 Comments


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Aug 04

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Jul 09

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zobii
Jun 24

The way this article highlights both the struggles and successes of his journey makes it especially impactful.I appreciated how the post focused not only on the obstacles James encountered but also on the support systems and resources that helped him build a better future. Stories like this demonstrate the importance of second chances and the positive impact that encouragement and guidance can have on someone’s life.The article was very clear and inspiring from start to finish. I recently came across a similar discussion on a review blog while reading about https://rtawholesalers.com/, and it offered an interesting perspective on how determination and access to the right opportunities can help people transform their lives. The message here aligns well with that idea.

Edited
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Lisa Charles
Lisa Charles
May 29

This was a thoughtful and insightful read about James Falkner and his efforts toward instilling positive change. It’s always meaningful to see discussions that focus on transformation, accountability, and the importance of community-driven improvement. The post presents the topic in a clear and reflective way.I recently came across a similar discussion on a review blog https://thesagelawgroup.ca/, which also looked at how individuals can influence positive change in their own environments. Appreciate you sharing this — it was a strong and engaging read.

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