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After connecting with The Adolescent Redemption Project , I realize that these stories need to be heard.\\xa0 I had the pleasure of hearing from Chester Shepard, who has now been incarcerated 47 years sentenced to life without parole. He practices every day to live a life of God and Grace even when the world says he doesn\\u2019t deserve a second chance. At what point can we decide that someone has earned a second chance for redemption?\\xa0 When the prisoner no longer holds a threat to society and when even the laws that held him there for life have been overturned in 1980, how can we continue to turn our back on this human being? \\xa0

I often wonder if we will ever to be able to build systems based on forgiveness and compassion.\\xa0 How many more lives could we truly save when our world isn\\u2019t run by the pursuit of power, politics and greed and more on the spiritual potential that lives within all of us? \\xa0 Even as I spoke to Shepard, I thought to myself how does a man like still continue to be an inspiration and a mentor to so many others? How does he continue to help others when we\\u2019ve told him he isn\\u2019t worthy of a second chance?\\xa0 If this is something that a man with no freedom, locked in a place where hope is a dangerous idea to hold, can find then isn\\u2019t it worth us listening to these stories and taking action so more lives don\\u2019t get silently sacrificed.\\xa0 I do not condone the actions that got these men sentenced, but I do believe that they\\u2019ve earned the right to redeem themselves in society.\\xa0 At what point in sentencing can we decide there is a better way forward for rehabilitation for the ones that when given the proper tools and education want to become something better? Don\\u2019t we at least need to give these adolescents a 1st chance before taking away their 2nd?\\xa0

Unfortunately, there are so many cases like Josh\\u2019s & Shepard\\u2019s where once sentences they are left forgotten to do nothing, become nothing and to die silently forgotten from society.\\xa0 I encourage you to ask yourself is this really the best we can do as humans?\\xa0 Wouldn\\u2019t a shot of redemption, rehabilitation and re-education be a better way to go that encourages, inspires and educates others from making the same mistakes?\\xa0 \\xa0

Although Chester Shepard and Josh Puckett don\\u2019t put the blame on anyone or anything other than their own choices, when do we as a society take responsibility for the fact that our systems, poor education and lack of community and togetherness have created the very things that we are condemning as guilty.\\xa0 Only together can we truly become the change we want to see. \\xa0

If you would like to join the fight for 2nd chances, please visit The Adolescent Redemption Project to see how you can take part in saving lives, but also aiding in the education so adolescents faced with the same choices don\\u2019t make the same mistakes. \\xa0

What the say about Chester Shepard now:\\xa0

\\u201cMr. Shepard is professional, kind and remarkably happy every day. He brings a joy and light to all individuals he is around. He often takes younger inmates under his wing, and does his best to encourage them to live up to their potential. He is a kind and gentle 67-year-old "old timer" who is loved by all who know him.\\u201d - MDOC Officers, fellow inmates and his work supervisors

To Support Shepard, Josh and their Mission to stop condemning adolescents to the silent death sentence , please go to: adolescentredemptionproject.org

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Dustin Wheeler
dustin@onetriberising.com