Our Stories - Beyond the headlines
Every person has a story. Often, the most compelling ones remain unheard. At SkyReality, we believe in shedding light on the journeys of young homeless and incarcerated individuals. We sometimes just see statistics. Don't forget there are human lives behind those numbers. People full of hopes, struggles, and the potential for a better tomorrow. Join us as we explore "How did we get here?" and discover the power of empathy.
Demetrius Roberts
He likes to write and enjoys history. He says if he could afford college, he would love to have gone.
He has been in jail for over 180 days for violating his probation. His original crime was just petty theft and now he has spent years of his life in and out of jail. Unable to get work and pushed to the edge of his sanity.
He told me life is boring and poor.
"Jail has been long. Jail is hard. I try to avoid trouble when I'm out, but it always seems to find me." - Roberts, D
Imagine what a whirlpool of a life he has lived. An older black man striped of his rights and humanity in the name of what? Is money so important we forget to care about each other?
" I want to travel the world one day." - R
" Oh yeah? where would you go? Africa, Europe?" - Me
" Oh no, not Africa. I would like to travel through Europe though." - R
Interview - 1
David Andrew Rogers Jr
" I feel like a cow or a pig in a kennel." - D
All living relatives either dead or in conflict with. Lost his kids the first time he got arrested. Had a really difficult childhood filled with abuse and neglect.
He grew up in hunters' point, San Fransico. He enjoys building lowriders and likes hookah lounges. He has 3 kids.
We reminisced about his past. After telling me horrific things he dealt with as a child, I invited him to explore happy memories.
" I remember being 5 and breaking the coffee table with my spiderman cape on. I remember my mom checking me. She was from South Carolina. She had 5 kids. 3 girls and 2 boys so you can just imagine." - D
He told me about how he still cries about some of the traumas he went through as a child. My exercise didn't fix anything. I pray I helped if even a bit.
Interview - 2
C. B.
D.U.I. crisis and crash out. Mr. C told me that his first DUI worsened his depression which led to more DUI's.
As a Navy sailor he would go on benders that would leave him passed out on the side of the road. The transition into civilian life and the hardships that come with that caused a spiral he wasn't equipped to handle alone. He has been to rehab 4 times and still relapsed. All the treatment in the world didn't seem to be working. One day he found the fix in an unexpected place. His mom told him that his sister wanted her only brother back. This hurt him so much he sobered up. The idea that he left his sister behind was enough to break the cycle of addiction for him.
" I truly believe the opposite of addiction is connection." - C.B.
For the first time in years, he went months sober. He still had to deal with the consequences of his legal situation. A judge declared that he needs to wear a SCRAM device. He had already been 4 months sober when this device detected alcohol in his system. The issue is there was no alcohol in his system. He was unjustly arrested and has been in jail for 3 months without proper legal representation. He has now lost the job and housing he worked very hard to obtain. A man who was just looking to get better for his family now ripped away from them and forced into a harder situation.
Interview - 3
Unheard Voices - "How did we get here?"
We delve deep into the lives of young individuals who have faced immense challenges. Many of our kids are facing homelessness and incarceration. We must remember that the future is in our hands. If we don't actively shape the world we want, what will become of us and the world?
Understanding breeds humanity
Our main message is simple. Everyone has a story. Before we judge the person on the street or the individual in jail, we must first hear them out. These stories aim to open hearts and minds. Fostering a deeper understanding of the complex realities many face. They are a call to look beyond appearances and truly see the human being within.
Inspiring action: Coming together for change
We hope these stories will open your eyes to the urgent need for societal change. Anyone can fall on hard times. Stand with me and fight for a world where housing is a right and no child is ever left hungry. We live in a world where we spend 400 billion on a war we are losing but can't seem to find 25 billion to feed the hungry. Let's change that.
"Hearing these stories broke my heart. Listening to people locked in a cage tell me about the hardships they faced was harder than I expected."
Lowe, Sky