Free, welcome, appreciated, understood

To me, PHOENIX Rising isn’t just two words shoved together to sound cool. I’ve found PHOENIX Rising to be a place where volunteers from the outside free world and guys on this side of the fence are able to come together twice a week and conversate and share opinions as equals, not by last name and SID numbers.

PHOENIX Rising and everyone involved have helped me to realize that I have a voice, willing to be heard and not judged and criticized. We laugh, we giggle, we get serious. When I’m in class, I feel free. I feel welcome. I feel appreciated. I feel understood.

To all the volunteers, Harry and Karen, Emily, Jeff, Peter, Dave, Cecil and Jean, as well as the rest of the fellas from this side of the fence, I say Thank You.

- Joshua Hedrick