2026 will be okay if we learn to take care of ourselves.
Rest isn’t quitting.
Pausing isn’t failing.
Asking for help isn’t weakness.

We talk about resilience like it’s always pushing forward.
But sometimes resilience is sitting down.
Sometimes love is letting go instead of holding tighter.

Our success isn’t just numbers—it’s lives changed. Only 10% of our students have re-engaged with the court system, proving that when we invest in education and guidance, young people thrive. In 2026, Empowering Education will continue leading the way. #FutureFocused

85 students have completed our programs as part of pre-trial diversion—meaning 85 young people avoided incarceration. For the budget-conscious, that’s $7,055,000 saved for the state of Kentucky, plus $20,000 in college grants awarded to our students. #ImpactMatters

2026 will be a better year. A brighter year. And this team is more than ready to keep building and putting in the work.

This is what happens when we invest in people instead of pipelines to incarceration. Education works. Support works. Opportunity works.

All of this happened despite DOGE cuts, government shutdowns, and my own health crisis. The work didn’t stop.

We also helped students stabilize their lives:
💼 15 students found employment
🧠 7 students accessed mental healthcare
🚗 1 student bought their first car so they could get to work

The student outcomes matter most:
🎓 $20,000 in college grants awarded through our partner Trace of Hope
📝 10 first-generation students had their first college application fees covered

For my conservative budget hawks keeping score: choosing education over incarceration saved the state of Kentucky $7,055,000. Smart policy. Real impact.

In 2025, 85 students completed our class as part of pre-trial diversion. That means 85 young people avoided incarceration and were given a real chance to move forward.