KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two former convicts in Knoxville are drawing on their personal experiences to help young people navigate challenges and avoid making the same kinds of mistakes that landed them in prison.
Rashaad Woods and Pastor Jeremy Ruby spent a combined 20 years behind bars. Since their release, they have both been committed to teaching young people to stay safe and helping them thrive — becoming advocates working on violence prevention. They both work with "Renounce Denounce," a gang intervention and violence prevention program in Knoxville.
Woods said he saw his first felony charge that he didn't beat when he was 27 years old.
"I think I've lost count of how many felonies that I caught," Ruby said. "Once you get in that system, it's so hard to get out of it."
Both said they have turned over a new leaf — working past their time in prison to help young people as they grow up.
"By me having lived that experience, I understand what they're looking for. I understand what they're searching for. And, I can offer it to them in a more positive way," said Woods. "They have low self-worth. They don't have anything to look forward to. For you to go out and put your life on the line every day, it shows that you don't have a future to look forward to."
They said they want young people to know that there is nothing for them in prison and nothing productive that comes from going to prison.
"When I left out of prison, this was my plan. This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to help the young, I wanted to help people that went through the same things that I went through," said Woods.
They said while they reflect on their past, they are hopeful for the future.
"That was a dark time in my life. You know, that was a time when I was full of myself," Ruby said. "When I realized the time that was wasted, and I want to be able to thank God that I'm in an opportunity now that I can be an influence on other people to not have to waste their time."
More information about the Renounce Denounce program is available through the program's social media pages.