In The Bloom by Lori Armstrong 

On this warm October day the Lake County Probation Department, in collaboration with the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, hosted a Resilient Re-entry event born and created to provide beneficial resources and guidance to justice-centered individuals. 

The event featured various services and resources tailored to justice-involved individuals, including record expungement, guidance with college education and free tattoo removal services.

Amongst the various vendors scattered on the campus, I met Chief Wendy Mondfrans, the Chief Probation Officer of Lake County Probation. She shared the positive influence of this event and directed me to the building that featured four inspirational speakers – all who have brilliantly transitioned from incarceration to leading productive lives.

I entered the college building as Elizabeth Quiroz, a distinguished author, co-founder of the Redemption House, Human Rights at Arizona State University and a master’s candidate in Social Justice shared her inspirational journey. Her words were transformative as she endured extreme abuse and human trafficking, digging deep to achieve a better life.  

During her presentation she directed our attention to another speaker in the audience, Randall Cole, a substance abuse counselor and accomplished author. I found my way to Randall who had his book in hand, hoping to provide him with book marketing tips. His demeanor was filled with gratitude as he expressed the dedication of the staff at Woodland Community College, stating,

“They won’t let you fail.”

Randall is a walking miracle that turned his life around and his memoir Felonies Before Birth (audiobook available on Amazon) tells the story of a young man raised in Oakland with a street name of “Coletrain” that endured a hard life of gangs, drugs, darkness and prison to finding God’s power when you are at your darkest place. His transformational journey is nothing but breathtaking.

Before I left I turned my attention to the mobile tattoo removal booth and spoke with a gentleman who wanted me to see his tattoos. He lifted his shirt and then showed me the tattoos on his back and neck, thrilled with the reality that they would soon be nothing but a memory.

A staff member of the mobile tattoo station shared that they attended this event in nine California counties and the Lake County Re-entry event was by far the most well-done over all nine counties.

The woodsy feel of the campus captivated my senses that warm October day, but the beautiful reminder that no one is ever stuck in this life captivated me even more. 

This event was a place of hope and healing.

Well done, Lake County. Well done.