Three years ago, Kelly graduated from Pawsperity. Within two weeks, she was hired by Brookside Barkery—where she has been employed ever since. Getting to this point in her life was not easy, but she is deeply grateful for all the support along the way.
In and out of prison for a decade, Kelly was heavily addicted to methamphetamines. “I would have warrants out for my arrest, and I would never check in with my parole officer. I continued to make bad choices, and it finally caught up to me.” She adds, “When I was in prison, I didn’t really think about what I would do with my future.”
But there came a time when Kelly made the conscious decision to never return to jail again. She had the opportunity, during parole, to initially get into the Heartland Center for Behavioral Change, a facility that provides behavioral healthcare and substance use disorder treatment services. Shortly after, Kelly then moved to Sisters in Christ, an organization that offers housing and mental health services to help formerly incarcerated women, often homeless, build stable, purposeful lives. Kelly says, “During counseling, they asked me what I wanted to do. Then they shared information about Pawsperity, or at the time, it was called The Grooming Project. I knew that program. It was mentioned to me a few years before, but I wasn’t ready. But at that moment, I was very ready for a different life. It was my time.”
After being approved and starting the program, the challenge to simply get to school was the next hurdle. “In the beginning, it took two different buses. I had to get there really early in the morning, before school was even open,” Kelly said. Her perseverance paid off because a few months later, she applied for an opening and received a spot at Pawsperity’s Family Residence. Only two blocks from the school, the 6-unit apartment facility built in 2021 by Pawsperity, or “dorms” as students call it, allowed Kelly to conveniently walk every day to her classes.
During her time at school, Kelly worked hard at learning the ins and outs of grooming. At the same time, she was attending the required Power Skills classes, which includes life skills courses such as emotion regulation, professionalism, and communication. Case Manager and Soft Skills Specialist, Emily Harris, MSW oversees this part of the curriculum. Emily says, “Kelly is so kind and always open to learning, which is what made it fun to have her in the classroom! She is truly dedicated to her personal growth, and you could see that by the way she transformed through the program. I think Kelly is a wonderful Pawsperity graduate role model!”
Another integral part of Pawsperity’s Power Skills is financial literacy, which is led by First Federal Bank of Kansas City. They helped Kelly put together a strategic plan while she was living in the Pawsperity Residence, allowing her to build a good rental history and save money. With the assistance and guidance of First Federal Bank of Kansas City, these plans turned into reality. After graduating from the program and moving out of the Residence, Kelly was able to purchase and move into her first home!
Reflecting now how going through the extensive program affected her, Kelly says how meeting Amy, Pawsperity’s Lead Grooming Instructor, and graduate of the program herself, was extremely powerful. “Being trained and taught by supportive and smart women was amazing. I never had that before.”
Kelly may not realize that she had an impact on the instructors as well. Amy says, “I’m incredibly proud of Kelly and her journey. She overcame things that would break most people. It’s nothing short of inspiring. She found not only a skill, but a purpose.”
As a groomer who has been in the field for three years now, Kelly shares, “I really like getting to know the dogs and seeing them time and time again. That’s my favorite part and makes my day.” At home, Kelly is thriving going to the gym daily, working on home projects, and living her best life with her two cats, Onion and Angela. She says, “Being a homeowner is surreal!”
It is hard to believe just a few years ago, Kelly’s life looked profoundly different than it does today. She says, “Pawsperity’s program is beyond life changing.” Although it was not easy, once Kelly’s mind was made up, there was no stopping her determination and perseverance. She says proudly, “I love my life.”
