After returning home from prison, Wayne Johnson needed to rebuild his financial stability.
Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Wayne spent much of his life navigating the realities of addiction and the justice system. “I came from a good family, but I liked to run the streets. I grew up in the streets, and I’ve been in and out of prison.”
Like many people navigating reentry post-incarceration, Wayne returned home to financial uncertainty: he was facing debt, credit woes, and limited employment opportunities. Motivated to improve his financial situation, Wayne found support through the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity. He received a $1,000 grant to support his reentry process, and counseling with Clarifi was included alongside the grant.
Initially, Wayne explained, the stress of managing debt combined with limited job opportunities made the idea of returning to former patterns seem like the only option. That was, until he attended his first Financial Counseling session at Clarifi.
Working with Clarifi changed my life. The meetings with my counselor slowed me down, kept me on track, and stopped me from going right back to what I was doing before.
-Wayne, Clarifi client
In just a few months, Wayne made strides in improving his credit and paying down debt. Stabilizing his finances allowed him to reimagine what was possible for his future.
Less than a year after his first Clarifi appointment, Wayne published his first book.
“Instead of going back to running the streets, I was able to pursue writing. Now, I’m a published author and I have plans to start a poetic therapy program.” The Inspiring Acronym Coloring Book, an anthology of poems all written and illustrated by Wayne, is a hopeful reflection on his experience of overcoming his painful past and finding a brighter future.
Pursuing this passion has given him an opportunity to uplift his family and his community.
“I’m so proud of this book, and it really uplifts my family’s spirits also. I wrote it hoping that my experience could help somebody else–give them hope for the future to show them that anything is possible,” Wayne explained. He is already working on his next book, and plans to offer poetry workshops for at-risk youth in his community.
“I’ve had opportunities to turn back to the streets, but what for? I’ve got Clarifi right here, they’ve cleared my thoughts up to where I’m going in a positive direction today.”
Wayne’s story shows how, with the right financial tools, people can take action to improve their lives, create new opportunity, and even interrupt harmful cycles like poverty, homelessness, and recidivism.
“I thank Clarifi for real, I actually mean that–I really do thank Clarifi.”