REAL LIFE

REAL LIFE We create pathways to attain and sustain a thriving life for those who desire change.

Our mission is to develop a relationship with each person we serve (as we refer to them, Lifers) that equips them to make the visible progress necessary for their personal pathway to a Thriving Life. Along the way, we engage the community and bring awareness to the needs of Lifers. Our work meets a standard of accountability we call compelling stewardship that allows us to engage Lifers with a level of service and financial effectiveness seldom seen.

Hiring someone who deserves a second chance might be one of the smartest business decisions you make.Our friends at the ...
03/11/2026

Hiring someone who deserves a second chance might be one of the smartest business decisions you make.

Our friends at the Better Business Bureau are hosting a Spark Conversation on Second Chances: Hiring, Reentry & Career Development. We’re excited that two familiar faces will be part of the discussion. REAL LIFE’s own Dr. Sarah Scarbrough and Sydney Smith will be part of the conversation, sharing what successful reentry and workforce development really look like in action.

Expect practical insights, real-world experience, and a conversation that might change how you think about second chance hiring. If you’re an employer, business leader, or just curious how it works (and why it works), come join us.

Monday, March 23
2:00 PM
4800 Cox Rd, Suite 101
Glen Allen, VA

Thanks to the Better Business Bureau for bringing together community partners to talk about solutions that strengthen businesses and open doors for people ready to get back to work.

03/11/2026

Happy Trivia Tuesday! And since it’s March… you know what that means. 🏀

This week’s question: How many teams make the NCAA tournament bracket?

Some people in the office claim to be basketball fans… but the answers suggested otherwise. A few clearly forgot about the First Four play-in games, because the correct answer is 68 teams.

Demetrius came in clutch for the second week in a row with the correct answer. Someone please check if he’s secretly studying these ahead of time.

Steven confidently answered “six seven,” proving he’s still living in the internet of last year.

Melissa skipped all the math (again) and went straight to the Elite Eight, shaking a tambourine like she’s leading the world’s most chaotic pep band.

Tommy loves basketball so much he’s lobbying for 128 teams so the tournament can last an extra weekend.

And Sydney has already declared herself the winner of the REAL LIFE staff bracket... before Selection Sunday has even happened. Talking a big game... We’ll be waiting for the receipts.

Who are you hoping makes the tournament? And who’s cutting down the net at the end of it all? 🏀

This week for Meet Us Monday, we are introducing Demel, one of our Assistant Peer House Leaders.Demel was born in Prince...
03/10/2026

This week for Meet Us Monday, we are introducing Demel, one of our Assistant Peer House Leaders.

Demel was born in Prince Edward County near Farmville and grew up with both of his parents alongside his sister and two brothers. He received his GED and worked on building mobile homes during his twenties. He also met his wife and they started a family together.

Substance use had been a part of his life since his teens, but over time it became more concerning and led to legal trouble. After years of struggling to get sober on his own, Demel entered treatment and later came to REAL LIFE. Since arriving in the program four months ago, Demel says the experience has helped him start to become the kind of person that he wants to be. He is working to become more accountable and more open to guidance and course correction. 

Demel recently stepped into the role of Assistant Peer House Leader. While he admits he was nervous about taking on the responsibility, he is embracing the opportunity to grow and lead.

Family has remained a constant source of encouragement for Demel. His mom and siblings have supported him through the years, and his wife has continued to stand by him throughout his recovery. 

Looking ahead, Demel is hoping to build a stable future for his family. He hopes to line up steady work when he returns home and is interested in pursuing his Commercial Driver’s License so he can drive trucks, something he has wanted to do for many years.

For now, he is focused on continuing the work he started in recovery and taking things one day at a time. As Demel says, “One thing I’m learning is to be quiet and listen so I can get a better understanding of everything.”

Yesterday also marked a major milestone for him. “I went to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting last night and got my one year chip,” Demel says.

Congratulations, Demel. We celebrate this accomplishment with you, are grateful for your leadership in the house and are looking forward to continuing to watch your journey unfold!

Today we celebrate International Women's Day by honoring the women who inspire the REAL LIFE team every day.We asked our...
03/09/2026

Today we celebrate International Women's Day by honoring the women who inspire the REAL LIFE team every day.

We asked our staff to share about a woman they admire, and the answers were as meaningful as they were diverse. From moms and grandmothers to colleagues, national leaders, mentors, and dear friends, each story reflects the strength, courage, and leadership that shape our lives and our work.

These women lead in big ways and small ones, by breaking barriers, lifting others up, showing resilience through difficult seasons, and believing in the potential of those around them.

Today, and every day, we celebrate the women who inspire us to lead with compassion, work for justice, and continue building stronger communities together.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Please join us in congratulating Jasmine, our fearless Alumni Coordinator, on four years in recovery today! Jasmine has ...
03/08/2026

Please join us in congratulating Jasmine, our fearless Alumni Coordinator, on four years in recovery today! Jasmine has truly experienced transformation here at REAL LIFE.

“It feels amazing to have reached a milestone of 4 years clean! If someone would have told me early in my process that life would be this good, I would have given them the side eye! Ha. Since being in recovery I have: graduated the REAL LIFE program, achieved Alumni status, gained meaningful employment with REAL LIFE, got promoted to Alumni Program Coordinator, paid off my back child support, got off of probation early, joined a church where I do service work, moved into my own apartment with no roommate, gained joint legal custody of my daughter (including visitation during summer breaks), formed strong bonds with my children, built a strong network of people who are genuinely solid . . . and I’m not finished!” Jasmine continues, “My upcoming goal is to have my car paid off in July this year, and I’m going to continue to trust God in the process!”

Jasmine is a kind and generous soul who is eager to give a hand up to anyone around her. We are SO PROUD of all that she has accomplished and we are grateful to be a part of her story.

Help us celebrate Jasmine by cheering her on in the comments.

Happy Flourishing Friday! We are excited to introduce you to two amazing Lifers today.Our first nominee, Alexis, was nom...
03/07/2026

Happy Flourishing Friday! We are excited to introduce you to two amazing Lifers today.

Our first nominee, Alexis, was nominated by Pathway Navigator Melissa. “Alexis has shown major improvement over the last 30 days in the program,” Melissa says. “She is always willing to help with the new ladies. She attends every class during the day and works in the evenings, never missing a beat. She is actively working on her relationship with her mother and two young children, and she was able to see her daughter in a talent show last night! I’m so proud of her.” Rebuilding relationships with family is an important part of the work happening at REAL LIFE, and moments like these are worth celebrating. Way to go, Alexis!

Our second nominee is Marco, nominated by Housing Manager Young. Marco shared, “Today marks 957 days clean! The REAL LIFE program helped me with my recovery, job, personal development, discipline, and independence.” He also said the program helped him understand the importance of having a reliable support system. Marco plans to stay connected to the REAL LIFE community even after graduation. Young says, “Marco has always been respectful and mindful of his recovery journey,” and shared how proud he is of the progress Marco has made.

Recovery is built day by day through commitment, support, and a willingness to keep moving forward. Alexis and Marco are great examples of that work in action.

Congratulations to Alexis and Marco!

Happy ! Today we’re celebrating Katie and a recent, well-deserved raise.Katie works as a Kitchen Manager at a popular R...
03/04/2026

Happy ! Today we’re celebrating Katie and a recent, well-deserved raise.

Katie works as a Kitchen Manager at a popular Richmond salad chain, where she oversees inventory and budget control while keeping the kitchen running smoothly.

“I love the responsibility I have with handling inventory and budget control,” Katie shares. “I also love the healthy work environment that supports my recovery journey and celebrates the milestones I reach, whether they’re big or small.”

Katie is a REAL LIFE graduate and is currently working toward joining the REAL LIFE Alumni program. Her dedication and consistency are paying off, and we couldn’t be more proud.

Way to go, Katie. Keep shining!

REALLIFEProgram

03/04/2026

This year will be our 8th Annual Portraits of Hope Gala on May 20th, so today’s trivia question had the team doing some gala math:

How many individuals have attended one of our galas since we started?

Special thanks to our guest trivia helper Jake from Lakeside Park Club for bringing today’s question.

The guesses were… ambitious. Some people were trying to math so hard you could practically see smoke coming out of their ears.

And no, that wasn’t Jeopardy-style music during Ervin’s answer. He just took so long thinking that his phone started ringing.

Pinto tried to help Melissa with the math. Tried. The effort was admirable, the results were… not. And Melissa, just like there’s no crying in baseball, there are also no do-overs in trivia.

Demetrius came in nearly spot on this week. Way to go! Honestly, we’re impressed. That’s the most accurate call we’ve seen from him since he predicted a big year for his beloved 49ers.

The correct answer: more than 1,500 individuals have attended a Portraits of Hope Gala over the years.

We love the chaos of our weekly trivia challenge almost as much as we love gala season.

And Jake, thanks again for the trivia assist. As for the piano playing… we won't argue with your assessment and we fully support sticking to your day job and leaving the keys to the professionals when the Dueling Pianos take over at the Gala.

🎟️ Grab your tickets for Portraits of Hope at reallifeprogram.org.

03/03/2026

A little birdie told us…

Early Bird tickets for the 2026 Portraits of Hope Gala are LIVE.

Buy now and save before prices take flight.

May 20th at Lakeside Park Club. An electric atmosphere. Dueling pianos that will have you belting out lyrics you swore you didn’t know. A night that’s meaningful and wildly fun.

Grab yours now at reallifeprogram.org

Don’t make the bird circle back. It hates that. 🐦

This week, we’re proud to introduce Andrew, one of our Peer House Leaders who is preparing to graduate this month.Born i...
03/03/2026

This week, we’re proud to introduce Andrew, one of our Peer House Leaders who is preparing to graduate this month.

Born in New Jersey, Andrew moved to Virginia at eight years old after his father retired from the police department. He describes his childhood as structured and loving, raised in a home with strong values and supportive parents.

Andrew began working in collision repair at sixteen, a trade he still works in today. By twenty, he was raising his son on his own. Feeling overwhelmed, he moved closer to his parents for support. In his early twenties, substance use escalated, leading to incarceration. During a later sentence, his younger brother was killed in a motorcycle accident.

“That’s when I made the decision that I wasn’t going to put myself or my family in that position again,” Andrew shares.

Today, Andrew is thriving. He works full time doing what he loves and is the proud father of three boys. Rebuilding those relationships has been one of his greatest joys. He hopes to move closer to his sons and pursue aviation mechanics training.

“REAL LIFE has saved my life. It’s given me a place to rebuild,” he says. “I will preach to the ends of the earth that recovery is possible.”

Andrew credits the structure, staff support, and brotherhood in the houses for helping him build a different future.

The work is real. The progress is steady. Recovery is possible. Congratulations, Andrew!

03/01/2026

Life Coaches are proud of their work.

Building relationships.
Connecting people to resources.
Showing up consistently.

And now…

The Flip!

Because regular trust exercises were getting boring.

The Flip was performed under professional-ish supervision. Mostly. Kinda. Sorta. Maybe?

And there was a quick review of the employee handbook's section on unauthorized gymnastics. We promise!

Project SAF Life Coaches are flipping good in our communities. The flip makes the reel. The relationships are what change lives.

Address

P. O. Box 27372
Richmond, VA
23261

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