Reggie Talbert is a former resident of Coolidge House, a residential reentry center for individuals transitioning from incarceration to the community.
Reggie had a difficult childhood, in and out of trouble with his family and the law. As a teen, he suffered an accidental gunshot wound that doctors were convinced would leave him paralyzed. Good care and physical therapy allowed him to regain strength and mobility.
Still, he ended up on the wrong side of the law, sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. It was during that time that Reggie vowed that he would change – that he was committed to taking whatever steps needed to leave that life behind.
“I was on a build and destroy path,” Reggie said, “destroy everything negative and build something positive.”
That’s where our Coolidge House program stepped in. Reggie benefited from the effective work of his case manager, Stefanie. Together, they worked through a plan to get Reggie employed, settled in a good place to live, and reunited with his family.
“Stefanie made me realize that I wasn’t alone,” he said.
Reggie now is a general manager at Inner City Weightlifting and is personally involved in changing lives. He and his team are working with young men in Boston, who are at the highest risk for violent behavior. Reggie coaches and empowers these young men with confidence.