Today Freddie Wilbert is an ASE master certified automotive technician for a Baton Rouge Chevrolet dealership. But 23 years ago his life looked completely different, spiraling from addiction and a lack of direction. He found himself in prison looking at a dead end, not knowing if he would ever have a chance to become the man and father he always knew he should be. It took time, maturity, and the desire to simply be better coupled with the opportunity to for vocational training that led to his new career that put him on Parole Project’s radar. Represented by our organization, Freddie was granted parole and released after 23 years in December 2019. A resident of Redemption Homes during his transition, Freddie is crystal clear about the role Parole Project played to help him get to where he is today.
“Without the Parole Project, I probably would not have been released. I didn’t have anybody speaking up for me or anywhere to go,” he said. “They took me in and showed me the steps I needed to take. They gave me a basic understand of everything and kept track of me and my progress.”
Now Freddie is working on getting additional professional certifications in a highly technical field that’s very different from the one he left 23 years ago. Yet he’s found his calling. “My professional goal is to do what I’m doing now. Just to be better, learn more, and to keep up with technology as the times change with these vehicles because every year something changes. But my career is right here.”
One of the best things about his new post-prison life, Freddie believes, is his thoughtful, new perspective on just about everything. “I’m just astonished every day when I get up and know that I get to come out, go to work, and go into a store and purchase things that I’ve worked for. I’m just left beyond belief. I take nothing for granted.”
