Kenneth received his second chance two years ago after being incarcerated for nearly 22 years.
Shortly after being released from prison in August 2023, he began working as a temporary electrician for a commercial electrical contractor. After he completed that role, his supervisor decided to bring him on permanently – a move he said was a wise investment.
“I hired him through a temp service, and he had to work for the staffing company for 900 hours. After those 900 hours were up, I knew he would be a great fit for us,” said Michael Stoute, project manager of Northshore Division of Sorrel Electrical Specialties based in Broussard, Louisiana. “He’s a great electrician. He’s a fast learner and a steady worker with a fantastic attitude. He’s never standing around, he’s always doing something or asking what he could do. He is very kind and calm, and I don’t think there’s one person who doesn’t like him.”
Kenneth is committed to his craft, logging long hours – typically between nine and ten per day, five days a week – while still taking on residential electrical jobs in the evenings or on the side.
His definition of success is tied directly to his deep faith and unwavering tenacity.
“I define it as the many failures I’ve had in my life and not giving up,” he said. “The Lord saved me. I knew I couldn’t give up because he gave me hope.”
While it’s been challenging returning home, he said the support from Parole Project helped him transition, and he feels lucky to give back.
“They helped me feel relaxed and comfortable on the outside. When you walk into their offices, they say, ‘Welcome Home,’ and they make an effort to help people get their second chances,” he said. “And now I try to give back as much as I can. I donate clothes and set up furniture donations for them. All they have to do is ask me, and I’m there to help.”
Kenneth grew up in Violet, Louisiana, near New Orleans, but calls Pearl River home, a small town in St. Tammany Parish that shares its name with the river it is located on. He was an outdoorsy kid, who loved duck hunting and fishing. He describes himself has a “chubby little guy” with two younger sisters, a half-brother and half-sister who always had a leadership mentality.
“My mom and dad trained us to be independent,” he said. “And we were a close family.”
When Kenneth isn’t working, he loves going out to eat boiled seafood with his mom and his two grown daughters, and he also enjoys bowling and fishing. He’s a fresh vegetable connoisseur and an avid gardener – a skill he learned while taking horticulture classes at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. He grows tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. He has a passion for capturing life’s moments, filling his phone’s camera reel with cherished selfies – smiling alongside his daughters and family members, on a boat, at a restaurant, celebrating with friends, and documenting his hard work on the job.
Each day, Kenneth shows up with purpose and resilience and is committed to making the most of every moment, proving that second chances aren’t just about redemption, they’re about transformation.
“When I was first released, I had lot of anxiety,” he said. “Inside, you rely on other people but out here it’s just me. I have to handle things myself, and sometimes you don’t know exactly what to do but I’m learning, and so far things have been really good for me.”
