Shawn is Trading Up

From prison to powerful community leader

From Uber to a set of wheels he can call his own

It was a rowdy celebration at the tax office!

I’m sure someone arriving at the tax office to renew their registration must have checked to make sure they were at the right place. Most early morning lines in front of government buildings don’t have people cheering, much less smiling. And as decorative as that big rock in front of us was, most people aren’t taking photos to commemorate their visit to the local tax authority.

But this particular morning, we had cause to grin and shout. We were celebrating the transformation of a young man who has been through the ringer and has come out the other side praising God.

When we first met Shawn, we were curious about his story and captivated by his infectious smile. The knowledge that he had been incarcerated could mistakenly influence someone away from helping him, but we knew from his advocate that Shawn was a perfect candidate for a “hand-up”.

Side Note - OnRamp’s advocate model serves us well - it’s easy to look at someone’s situation and/or appearance and make assumptions about who they are. The stories we can tell ourselves sometimes keep us from helping a neighbor who desperately needs our compassion. On the other hand, many of us have fallen victim to a confidently, well-told and emotionally-moving story, only to find out later we were being played. Advocates in the Onramp model nominate candidates whom they have known for at least six months and whom they have personally witnessed taking positive steps forward in growth and self-sufficiency.

Shawn and his advocate Jason from PEP

Shawn’s advocate, Jason from Prison Entrepreneurship Program, told us about meeting Shawn while Shawn was still in prison and the path he has taken since then. Rarely has Jason seen someone so hungry for knowledge and resources, so eager to make up for lost time. In fact, Shawn graduated from the PEP program while he was still incarcerated, but he didn’t stop there. He has continued to grow since his release - by meeting with leaders who would teach him and hold him accountable, and by serving with PEP as a coach to others who were in his same situation. Shawn has changed the narrative and is now using the lessons he’s learned to be a catalyst for change with others.

One of the things that stood out the most during our giveaway, was Shawn’s credit to God, specifically the transformative power of Jesus that has given him hope and has changed his outlook on life. Shawn became a follower of Jesus while in prison, and had already had a significant change of heart when he met Jason. Shawn’s faith in a God of second chances, who uses our scars for our good, has enabled him to start over, fueled by his confidence in his favorable standing with God.

When it was finally time for Shawn to see his new car, we were eager to witness his response, knowing his exuberant personality. A generous DFW neighbor had donated their older but well-kept Volkswagon Passat to OnRamp DFW, for us to in turn give to a client. Shawn sat down in the driver’s seat and immediately proclaimed: “I’M IN LOVE!”

Shawn, we are proud of you, and proud to have you in the OnRamp family!

Once again, we are so thankful for everyone who participated in this gift of love, from the owners of the donated vehicle, to the OnRamp DFW team behind the scenes, to the mechanics at Christian Brothers Automotive who made sure the vehicle was in tip-top shape. Special thanks to NBC channel 5 for coming to this giveaway and recording Shawn’s story and celebration!

Story and photos used with permission.

Photography by Jon Dunlop