Ricky Nevarez, California Justice Leaders
A Mentor for Re-entry populations in the Los Angeles Region
Ricky Nevarez was motivated to become a member of the California Justice Leaders (CJL) AmeriCorps California program after being a beneficiary of the program and gaining a desire for a different life. Ricky’s service experience led him to make a positive impact in the lives of others while building skills to reach his professional goal to become a Substance Abuse Counseling Specialist.
Ricky Nevarez, California Justice Leader of Los Angeles, grappled with uncertainty about his future. His desire for a different life motivated Ricky to seek change and apply to become a California Justice Leader after being a program beneficiary of the California Justice Leaders AmeriCorps California program in 2022. As a member of the 2023 California Justice Leaders cohort, Ricky’s excitement for helping people navigate the re-entry process grew significantly while he continued to build his professional skills. Despite his soft-spoken nature, Ricky courageously took the opportunity to build his confidence and technology skills to provide presentations and support services for the new youth program at his placement site.
Ricky’s experience as a California Justice Leader inspired him to further his education and he is enrolled to earn his high school diploma and pursue training to become a Substance Abuse Counseling Specialist.
Ricky is grateful for his service experience as a California Justice Leader as it provided him with the opportunity to build skills to obtain long-term, permanent employment which further fuels his dedication for serving those in the re-entry process.