Anthony Richmond's journey at Twin Cities R!SE is a powerful example of what happens when someone sees your potential instead of your past. Today, he's using his lived experience to help others recognize their worth and discover what's possible.
When Anthony Richmond walked into his interview at Twin Cities R!SE (TCR), he carried more than a resume. He carried a past he believed would always define him.
Today, as TCR's Community Outreach Manager, Anthony uses his lived experience to connect with others, build community partnerships, and help individuals recognize their potential.
"Four years ago, I walked into Twin Cities R!SE carrying more than a resume. I walked in carrying a past I thought would always define me."
Since joining TCR, Anthony has helped nearly 2,000 Participants enroll in career training cohorts, completed the Empowerment Institute's facilitator training, and grown as a leader. But one of his proudest accomplishments is helping create and lead the Empowered Reentry Training (ERT) program.
The idea began during his interview for the Community Outreach Manager position. When asked how he would increase enrollment, Anthony had a simple answer.
"I'd go into the prisons."
His response came from personal experience.
"When I was incarcerated, programs like the ones TCR provides were exactly what I needed. I needed hope. I needed support. I needed someone to help me see a future bigger than my circumstances."
Today, ERT brings empowerment and preparation directly into correctional facilities. The program helps individuals prepare for life after incarceration and connects them with continued support as they return to their communities.
"Watching an idea become a program that impacts lives has been one of the greatest honors of my career."
While Anthony is proud of the work he's accomplished, one of the most meaningful moments of his journey happened during his first week at TCR.
Sitting in his supervisor Alex's office, Anthony was unsure whether he truly belonged. He asked her a question that had been weighing on him.
"You know I'm a felon, right?"
Alex looked him in the eye and responded with words he would never forget.
"You are not a felon. You are not your worst decision. You're Anthony. The only thing I care about is whether you can do this job."
That conversation changed how Anthony viewed himself.
"Alex reminded me that my mistakes were something I had done, not who I was. That conversation changed the way I viewed myself forever."
For Anthony, that moment demonstrated the true meaning of fair-chance hiring. TCR recognized his skills, experiences, and passion for helping others rather than defining him by his past.
"TCR didn't hire me despite my past. They hired me because they saw my potential, my experience, my skills, and my heart for this work. They saw me. NAKUONA!"
Now, Anthony has the opportunity to help others recognize that same potential within themselves.
"Every day, I get to tell people that they are more than their mistakes. That their past does not determine their future. That they are worthy of opportunity, growth, and success."
Although Anthony never experienced TCR's career training program as a Participant, he has experienced the organization's commitment to Personal Empowerment as an employee.
"I can honestly say that as an employee, I have experienced the same belief, empowerment, and support that we strive to provide to every person who walks through our doors."
For Anthony, his career has become an opportunity to turn personal experiences into hope for others while continuing to grow alongside the people and organization that believed in him.
"I'm grateful to be part of an organization that doesn't just talk about transformation, but lives it every single day."
Anthony's story reflects what is possible when people are recognized for their strengths, supported in their growth, and empowered to build a future beyond their circumstances.
