Student Highlights: Arnold Baek

The following story was provided by Amity faculty member Dexter Cleveland and prepared by former Beacon student Arnold Baek:

“I am writing this letter to you to share what the Amity Foundation Beacon House has done for me. This 6-month transitional program has been a great help to me. I believe this program was initially a burden because it was required of me from BPH. Like anyone else who was formerly incarcerated and being an ex-lifer, no one wants to do another 6 months in a transition program after prison. However, the Beacon House not only provided me the necessary foundation of my transition, but also gave me the future to my success.

The program itself has a meaningful curriculum that has aided in my transition back to the community. The morning and evening gatherings, workshops, seminars, yoga class, meditation class, drum class, lodge groups, sporting events, and the several partner organizations constantly coming to the house all contributed to give us the help that we need.

Specifically, my Advocate Harold Rigsby and his Supervisor, Dexter Cleveland, have been the biggest assets to me that Beacon House has. Harold, being my advocate, was constantly checking up on me and seeing how I was adjusting back to the community. He always had the best intentions and was always encouraging me to be the best version of myself. Harold recommended Dexter Cleveland to vouch for me as a great candidate for employment and job opportunities related to technology and computers. Dexter made a call to one of his friends, Roberto Luca, the program director at Mass Liberation. Due to Dexter and his recommendation, I have been gainfully employed at Mass Liberation since September 2022. I started part-time as an hourly employee and now have been offered a full-time salary position as their IT guy.

I have saved enough to set up a solid foundation for myself because of Beacon House, its professional employees, and the beneficial curriculum and programming it provides. I have been able to get my own apartment and a brand new 2023 car. I am in a good place and there is only room for growth. I contribute my success to Beacon House and specifically Harold and Dexter because these two men have been a huge positive influence on me.”