Rubicon Programs Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram About us Services News Impact Donate Contact us GET HELP Participant Spotlight Mario "I’m proud that I am able to be where I am at this stage in my life. I’ve overcome some serious obstacles. It’s been a struggle. But I’ve conquered them all, thanks to Rubicon." Mario, a member of Rubicon Programs' July 2016 cohort, always intended to live a good life, but the things he wanted always seemed out of reach. Entering adulthood in a resource-deprived community, Mario felt that the only viable path to success came from “the dark side.” “I got caught up dealing drugs,” he says. He was able to make enough to pay the bills and get what he thought he wanted. “I was ‘street famous’ and feeling pretty content. But I began to stagnate, physically, mentally and spiritually. And in the end, I became my own best customer.” He spent more than a decade in and out of jail, fell behind on his child support and lost touch with his family. When he hit rock bottom, his life until then came into focus, and he thought about all the time he lost not being a productive citizen. That day, he made a decision to learn from his mistakes, grow as a person and embrace the “light side, the good side.” His neighbor, a former Rubicon client, suggested he look into Rubicon Programs. At first he was skeptical, “what could happen in just a few weeks?” But soon, he crossed the threshold and realized that he could turn his life around, and that Rubicon’s staff would be sticking with him for the foreseeable future. “All the workshops challenged me and helped me grow. Each day I chipped off a bit of the block of what they offered. I met with all of the coaches. Jessica stayed on me and made sure I followed through. Pat, Reggie, Max, Dalia, Ken, Porschea, Lila, even the office staff, all were instrumental to my success. ” Now, one year later, Mario works with LiUNA!, the laborers union in San Francisco. The job, which he secured after capitalizing on a few community connections, earns $30 an hour. He now has enough to move closer to his mother and his kids, own a reliable car and save for a rainy day, while also enjoying the good things in life. He has paid off his child support, rebuilt relationships and found stability for the first time in decades. He’s proud of the work that he does, building public parks, sidewalks and hospitals. And he hopes to continue to grow in his career. He plans to learn how to use new types of modern equipment and develop brand new skills in his field. “I want to be a real asset to a company,” he says. He also wants to give back. He’s joined Rubicon’s Men’s Group, where he meets every week to share his success with new participants. “I’m glad I am able to be an inspiration to others.” He tells everyone he runs into, especially if they’re down on their luck, “go over to Rubicon.” He says that he keeps coming back because it keeps him focused, and keeps him grounded. “I’ve been able to get everything I need with Rubicon. And if they don’t have it, they know how to help me find it.” “I’m proud that I am able to be where I am at this stage in my life. I’ve overcome some serious obstacles. It’s been a struggle. But I’ve conquered them all, thanks to Rubicon.” MORE PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHTS Markku “At Rubicon, they talk about building networks and connections all the time. Your network can help you find a job, your friends can be there to support you when you feel like you can’t go on, but the biggest gift that my sobriety and my stability have given me has been earning the trust of my wife and daughter again.” READ MORE John & Sieur “Rubicon taught me to smash my fixed mindset and adopt a growth mindset. Now, I know things don’t have to stay the same.” READ MORE Drummond “What you need is a big bandage to cover up the whole cut and lets it heal. Rubicon heals. It brings you back together. It breaks the cycle of poverty." READ MORE Donate Blog Contact us Sitemap Privacy Policy Rubicon Programs Administrative offices: 2500 Bissell Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 EIN 94-2301550 Copyright ©2021 Rubicon Programs