“My name is Ilka Rosales. I was released from prison on June 4, 2019, after serving 25 years for a crime I
committed in 1993. My parents worked a lot to provide for my younger siblings and me so with learning that quiet
behavior and not always having my parents to talk to I became a stuffer and developed abandonment issues. That
caused me to become an angry child who threw tantrums and did anything to get the attention of family and
friends. With having abandonment issues, I learned how to manipulate to be seen and get the attention of my
parents.

I was not heard, so I felt unsafe and I started fighting back and ended up fighting and getting suspended a lot
at school. As I got older, I was angry and became insecure thinking that I was not good enough or loved. I
became a bully in the years to come. When I was 14, my cousin was molested by a family friend, and the
individual was never arrested. My attitude was further fueled because I believed police weren’t doing their job.
From then on, I carried a gun everywhere I went. Sadly, this didn’t prevent me from being raped one night too.

I was a teen out of control and began a downward spiral. I got involved in gangs, street racing, drinking, and
getting high. I enjoyed violence; it felt good to be bad and it seemed like everything was great being part of
my gang until one of the guys raped my friend’s 12-year-old little sister. After that our gang had a meeting,
and we decided to take matters into our own hands resulting in the death of that young man.

I served 25 years and it took 20 of those years for me to finally decide that I wanted to change. After my
grandmother’s death and my mom getting sick I started to realize the damage I did and how much I just wanted to
be with my family. I met Ms. Phyllis from TFCF a few months before I was released when she would visit the
prison every month. Because of her, TFCF accepted me into their Positive Futures project and single women’s
shelter. I was so relieved with their support, after serving 25 years I was afraid of what society would be like
and had anxiety on a new life in the free world, but TFCF was there to guide me every step of the way.

After being incarcerated for so long I did not realize that I was institutionalized. TFCF supported me with no
attachments and helped me learn how to be free. They understand what it feels like being incarcerated and know
exactly what I needed. Throughout my discomforts, outbursts, trials and tribulation, and character defects TFCF
continued to lovingly support and guide me. I have been able to receive one-on-one therapy, get 24-hour care
when it comes to my needs or questions, and best of all they have provided me with a safe, stable, healthy place
to live.

I’m also grateful for the Positive Futures program. Without it, I would have never gotten the opportunity to
come to Time for Change. This program is non-biased or judgmental with their clients, and they still remain in
your life and check in after you leave. What I love the most is the fact that they are such strong advocates for
injustices. They do not sit back and talk, they DO, and they continue to do! Without help and support, a
successful reentry into society is almost near impossible. The list is endless, but the main support that I have
received is and will always be the most valuable: moral, emotional, physical, spiritual, and loving support.”

Eileen, a mother of three came to Time for Change Foundation in September 2019 after being homeless. At age 35,
she never expected to be bouncing from home to home just to have a place to sleep. She also never thought she
would lose her children due to drug addiction. Her 2 older children lived with their father, and her
five-year-old daughter was in foster care. Drug addiction
intensified and toxic behaviors with it. “I lost my job, and I needed to make some money, so I started doing
what I could to survive.”

In September 2019, Eileen entered Time for Change Foundation and on October 1, 2019, Eileen reunited with her
daughter at the San Diego Courthouse! She brought her daughter home to our Sweet Dreams shelter the same day of
her hearing. “My daughter could not stop kissing me and was all over me that day, I cried tears of joy because
now we have a place we can call home!”

Since coming to Time for Change Foundation Eileen has learned the meaning of stability. Having a home to come to
daily has made all the difference in her life and has helped her maintain her sobriety.

“For the first time, I am doing things that I never thought of doing. My little one is happy and stable, going
to school and spending quality time with a mother that loves her. I now believe in second chances and this would
not be possible without Time for Change Foundation!”

Angie was born into a dysfunctional family. When she was four years old, she started being molested by her
mother’s boyfriend. This went on for years until her father was granted custody of her. When Angie was twenty-
two, she had her first child. Her life was looking up. She had her own place, a job, a car, and was
self-sufficient. Seven years later, she had her second child and then was introduced to methamphetamine.

She was using drugs until she was six months pregnant with her third child. Then continued back on it right
after she was born. That is when her life started spiraling out of control. She lost her apartment, went to
jail, and lost visitation with her children altogether.

After being released she was able to regain custody of her children but had nowhere to go, they moved in with
her uncle, who ended up molesting her son. Her only choice was to move in with another family member, who was a
drug dealer. Although Angie wanted a better life for her kids, it only got worse. Her addiction and her life had
gotten out of control.

Nothing changed until her oldest daughter came to her and begged her to stop. She pleaded that she wanted her
mother back! That is when she realized it was time to change. In August 2019 Angie made the call to Time for
Change Foundation and was immediately accepted. She and her three kids packed what they had and came to San
Bernardino from Fresno.

Angie now has 9 months clean and sober. Since coming to TFCF she and her children are happy and healthy, getting
all the resources they need to heal from their past. Having stable housing has made all the difference in her
children’s’ lives. Her oldest daughter Talaya got all A’s and one B on her recent report card and has been able
to focus on being a teenager. Once again, Angie is the mother that her kids remember. She is a leader, a role
model, and a positive member of society. She is accomplishing her goals one day at a time and is on the road to
self-sufficiency once again!

Carde Taylor was released from prison on March 20, 2019, after doing over 20 years. She went to Crossroads
International Program in San Diego for seven months then transitioned to the Bay Area after being offered a
position with Young Women’s Freedom Center in Oakland, CA. Moving to a completely different city on the opposite
side of the state was a scary thought, but after serving so many years in prison with convictions on your
record, not being able to find a good job is worse!

Carde came to Time for Change Foundation’s (TFCF) Brighter Futures home on October 1, 2019, making it possible
for her to have a successful transition. Her goals are to enroll in online computer classes in the following
semester and to save enough to have a place of her own, further her education and continue to build stronger
family relationships.

Since being with TFCF Carde has been consistent with working towards her goals. Currently, she is a certified
AOD Counselor and is counseling youth in her chosen field. Carde’s knowledge and skills in counseling has also
helped her be supportive of the other women at Brighter Futures and in the community.

Carde has expressed that Brighter Futures has made it possible for her to have a job, if it were not for Time
for Change she would not have a home!

Released from incarceration in June of 2020, Amber was driven to find a better way of life, but was unsure of
where to start. On her acceptance into Time For Change Foundation, she eagerly completed program classes such as
Financial Literacy, Entrepreneur Mindset, and Employment Development. With her newfound knowledge on budgeting
and saving, she was able to improve her credit score, and buy herself a car. Amber learned to craft a resume,
and cover letter. Her hard work and eagerness to improve herself led to TFCF offering her a position as a Peer
Mentor, working with our clients to encourage their growth. “If I can do it, you can do it to!”

Despite her childhood of poverty, and being witness to alcoholism, a biology degree and nursing assistant
position rose LaShana towards success. LaShana came to Time For Change Foundation after a gambling addiction,
and schizoaffective disorder disrupted her life. Diagnosed in 2015, sudden homelessness and unemployment made
her attempts to recieve treatment and medication difficult. The stress of her predicament, and the inability to
attain stable housing created a cycle, where her efforts to improve her life would trigger mental health
episodes, collapsing the progress she had made. After being hospitalized, and therefore medicated, she was
advised to reach out to Time For Change Foundation. With mental health counseling, and the drive to make a
better life for herself, Lashana is taking things one day at a time, developing healthy methods for coping with
her mental health, and looking forward to the future.

The pandemic has impacted my family in a very simple way, loss of work hours. We have tried our best to work as
much as possible to make ends meet, but there have been moments where we’ve come up short, and recently, our
rent has been one of them. We are asking for help because we feel that we have no other choice, there is no way
we could not complete the remaining half of the rent. I am currently not working due to a coworker who tested
positive for COVID. My being near them was enough to be sent home to quarantine, without pay. We really
appreciate the help we’ve gotten in these hard times.

Bianca began abusing drugs at age 24. Coming from a home where her parents used, it wasn’t long before she began
to follow in their footsteps. The consequences were swift. She lost her job, her home and became unstable,
throwing every moment away in addiction. Ultimately, addiction led to her being homeless for 5 years and seeing
her life deteriorate. Irresponsibility led her to miss court dates, medical appointments, and unable to provide
for her children. After going through this cycle for so many years, Bianca knew it was time for change. She came
to Time for Change Foundation in July 2021 determined to leave the past behind her. She and her two daughters,
ages three and one, were provided with safe, stable housing where Bianca can bathe her children and provide them
with three meals a day. She has been assigned a case manager who works with her daily on her self-sufficiency
plan. “At Time for Change [Foundation] I’ve been able to get organized and take the steps my life needed.”

Bianca shares that she wants to be independent, showing her children a different, healthier lifestyle. Most
importantly, Bianca aims to be a sober mother, who loves and takes care her children. She thanks TFCF for the
support, “I have a closet and drawers to put my clothes in. I hadn’t had that in five years, clothes of my own
to put away. That’s structure. This is the most support I’ve had in years, our lives are just better!” After
being at TFCF’s Sweet Dreams shelter, Bianca has successfully completed parenting, has continued to maintain her
sobriety, and has recently gained employment. She has come a long way and the best is yet to come!

Rosanna is very grateful for the impact Time for Change Foundation has had on her life. Thinking back on how she
got here, she remembers being a kid always excelling in academics. For her, school was a means of escape from
the drugs and violence that consumed her household. The daily abuse from her mother and father led her to
alcohol at 12, a discovery she learned, helped to numb the physical and emotional pain. At 14 she was introduced
to Methamphetamine, and weekend use soon turned to everyday addiction. By 16 she was pregnant, kicked out of her
parent’s home, and living in an abusive relationship. At age 18 she got married in Las Vegas and gave birth to
her daughter two days later. The image of a happy family was more important for the young Rosanna than the
reality of her circumstance. While the abusive life she was experiencing at home intensified, she continued her
escape through education, graduating summa cum laude and going on to work in the medical industry. One morning,
after a night of heavy drinking she rushed to work while still intoxicated. Losing control of her car she rolled
six times before walking from the vehicle unharmed. During the resulting 2-year prison sentence a series of life
changing events occurred.

Upon arrival to federal prison, she found out she was 2 weeks pregnant. Then her husband took her 6-year-old
daughter and moved to Mexico, losing all contact with her. Devastated, she
would give birth to her second daughter while incarcerated, allowing her family to take custody to prevent her
entering the system. When released, Rosanna found herself cycling back into
incarceration due to drug use. Her children went into their father’s custody, and ultimately into CPS due to his
own addictions. After her last time in jail Rosanna decided she was ready for change. Reaching out to Time For
Change Foundation she was determined to get her life back on track. “They [TFCF] made it easy, I just had to do
the footwork.”

Rosanna entered into Time for Change’s Mt. View shelter in June 2021 where she participated in educational
classes, 12-step recovery, and has learned the life skills needed to reach self-sufficiency. After only a month,
Rosanna gained full-time employment and has opened up a savings. She enjoys her new job and shares, “it’s an
honest living. It feels good to be needed, I’m part of a team and we all work together. It boosts my
confidence.” On October 29th Rosanna moved into her very own apartment after only four months of entering our
program! She now has a home to bring her children to where they can reunite and be the family she always dreamed
of. “I am on top of the world, I didn’t think I’d be able to come so far in such little time. The only way I was
able to make this transition and apply my goals into action was because of Time for Change [Foundation].”
Congratulations Rosanna!

Jessica received her second DUI in January of 2021. At the time she and her son were homeless, “couch surfing”
she calls it, place to place and if lucky, motel to motel. She even left California for a time in 2020, just for
the opportunity for shelter. She was in such a warped mindset at the time that she couldn’t seem to catch her
breath. The stress of her life and a lack of planning or goal setting led from bad decisions to worse decisions.
The January DUI was a revelation for her, as while detained at West Valley she came to terms with her
alcoholism. She was behind bars, clueless as to the whereabouts of her son, and extremely worried about him.
Later she would find out of his entry to the child welfare system, as a ward of the state of California. After
leaving jail in February, she hit the ground running. She knew she had made terrible mistakes but was more
concerned with the effects said mistakes would have on her son. She knew that in the system his safety and
security were on the line. She completed inpatient rehab at Gibson House, but not before three more visits to
West Valley Detention Center. Her alcoholism was a battle, and confusion over her circumstance led to loss of
emotional control and rage.

Jessica entered TFCF on August 1, 2021 with the goal of controlling these feelings, her addiction, and her rage.
After cycling in and out of jail, unable to control her emotions, and coming to the realization that all that
mattered was getting her son back, she set goals for herself and is working to let go of the guilt, and pain
inside her. Her favorite class is Women’s Wellness, as she wants to learn to be better to herself. This is a
very important aspect of her recovery that she says Time for Change Foundation focuses on, the trauma outside of
addiction. Now, Jessica has gained a new view of herself and has gained a positive mindset over her situation.
After only one month of being at TFCF Jessica has gained employment and has moved into her own apartment on
November 1, 2021! It has been three years since Jessica has had her own home, and while this is exciting for
her, she is more thankful at the thought that she now has a home to reunite with her son!