From Incarceration to Innovation

From Incarceration to Innovation

My name is Ashley, and I’m a justice-impacted individual working hard to rebuild my life and build a future I can be proud of. While I was incarcerated, I discovered something that completely changed the direction of my life: coding. What started as a way to stay focused and grounded became a passion that gave me purpose, confidence, and a new vision for my future.

Learning to code showed me that I’m capable of more than my past mistakes. It opened a door to a world of creativity, problem-solving, and opportunity. I fell in love with web development — building things, fixing things, understanding how technology works, and realizing I can build the kind of life I used to only imagine.

Today, I’m committed to continuing that journey. I want to pursue my education and earn my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, so I can keep growing, refining my skills, and building a real career in tech. My goal is to become a full-time developer, create meaningful projects, and eventually mentor others who come from similar backgrounds — showing them that a second chance can lead to something incredible.

But right now, I need support to take the next step. School is expensive, and as I work to rebuild my life, financial barriers stand in the way of my progress. Your support will help cover the costs of my education and bring me closer to a future where I can stand on my own, support my family, and contribute to the tech community.

If you choose to support me, you’re not just helping someone go back to school — you’re helping someone rewrite their story.

Thank you for believing in what I’m working toward.