Our Loved Ones

After 20 years serving time, completing his GED and graduating valedictorian.  Jerry has taken every course offered by VADOC to better himself; he’s even taking certification courses in carpet cleaning, janitorial services and using chemicals to clean floors and walls. He is taking college courses to receive his Associates degree in Biblical Studies. His goal upon release is to mentor youths about his experiences, the importance of an education and how to handling life situations. Jerry was a truck driver and had his CDL prior to his arrest. He has connected with individuals on the outside to line up the opportunity for him to get his CDL again as well as a job driving trucks. He has definitely rehabilitated himself despite the circumstances and has a strong support system behind him upon release including his wife and employment in construction. 

What He Has Achieved Since Incarceration in the last 20 years

• Associates Degree in Biblical Studies
• Certifications in Janitorial Services
• Certifications in Anger Management, Thinking for a Change, Narcotics/Alcohol Anonymous and Breaking Barriers

Initially adjusting to incarceration as an 18 year old it took Sincere some time to grow. He experienced issues with growth and development coming into his own in the prison system. He had issues with self worthiness, depression, substance use, isolation, anxiety, challenges with authority, issues with abandonment, and thoughts of suicide. For the first several years he admits he was in denial of his sentence length. Earlier in his incarceration to financially support himself he engaged in activities frowned upon by the DOC. However, like most of us as we begin to mature, he got to an age where he realized the idea of life outside of prison was a possibility and better than being in prison. Therefore, in his 30s he decided to change his life and increase his human capital. Always a sincere and genuinely nice person, he used the relationships he built with staff to get involved in programs that would otherwise not have been afforded to him due to his age and type of conviction he received. He set a goal at age 35 to work towards becoming certified as a peer recovery specialist for people with substance abuse and mental health issues. As part of that goal he started becoming certified in the areas that would enhance his knowledge of this subject. Now 5 years later and 40 years old, he is a Shared Allied Management Therapeutic Aide which is a state wide program where he coordinates and facilitates programs, provides mentorship, and acts as a pod liaison between inmates and staff. He was chosen to be 1 of 16 out of 96 applicants. He created his own program to teach intra and interpersonal skills, leadership, and goal setting. For his work he has received many awards in leadership. Due to Covid-19 he has to wait to be certified as a peer support recovery specialist. He has never been in trouble as a adult prior to prison and in prison he has only received two infractions in 23 years. Unfortunately, he developed covid which he is still recuperating from. His only life lived was as a child into a teen. When he went to prison he had only been 18 years old for 4 months. He was not an adult. He has matured and is remorseful of his role in the crime that sent him to prison. He admits prison changed his life for the good but now it is time for him to come home. He wants to be with his family, pay taxes, work, and give back to his community. He has a niece and nephew that want to meet him and siblings who were babies when he left and are now grown. He has a home, sustainable employment opportunities, and financial and mental health support when released. Let’s bring Sincere home.

What He Has Achieved Since Incarceration in the last 23 years

• GED in 2004
• GED tutor 2004-2005
• College Courses – Washington and Lee Univ. Socio-Economic Course
• Therapeutic Aide in the S.A.M Program 2016-current
• Several certifications including Anger Management for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, DBT Mindfulness Interpersonal Effectiveness, Distress Tolerance, Anger Management Program Aide, Substance abuse AA/NA, Personal finance & small business ownership
• Created ‘Personal Growth’ Program to teach goal setting and leadership

What he has done with the last 12 yrs: Spending his entire 20’s in prison, he’s made the most of his time. He started on his mindfulness journey with meditation, learning tai chi and practicing daily and sharing his gifts with others. From an educational standpoint, he received his GED in 2012. He’s currently taking print-based college courses through Ohio University in pursuit of an Associate’s degree in Social Sciences while incarcerated. He also completed a trade in brick masonry. He has been organizer of the Zen Buddhist group at Lawrenceville for a couple years. He’s assisted with planning, organizing and speaking at various reentry efforts over the years. He’s offered counselling for gang intervention and prevention for the length of incarceration. He’s also counselled and mentored many inmates of various ages, offering advice on many topics including self-care, mental health issues, family-building and education. Most recently, Quadaire has organized, written, and championed a website called BrillianceBehindBars.com, which helps give incarcerated voices a chance to be heard on various topics and bring extended humanization to their names and helps with reframing mindsets for rehabilitation and re-entry. He wants to obtain a bachelor’s degree, and start his own business. He will have a wonderful home with his fiancé and a job when he gets released. 

What He Has Achieved Since Incarceration in the last 12 years

• GED
• Studying for Associate’s Degree in Social Sciences
• Brick Masonry Trade
• Creator and Organizer of BrillianceBehindBars.com
• Leader of Zen Buddhist Group