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Tastemade: The Shift

Tastemade’s documentary, “The Shift,” follows the extraordinary stories of Chrysalis clients Bryon and Darrell and their journeys from incarceration to working for celebrity chef Curtis Stone.

Los Angeles Magazine: Offering People a Way Back

For more than three decades, Chrysalis has been changing lives through jobs. But the recent surge in the homeless population has only toughened an already challenging task. Los Angeles Magazine sat down with Chrysalis President & CEO Mark Loranger about the crisis and his organization’s work.

Success Bells: Jayson

Jayson was faced with challenges after he left that army that lead him to substance abuse and more than 17 years of homelessness. He came to Chrysalis for a fresh start. Now, he transforms discarded carbon fiber into skateboards – a job that has transformed his life.

VolunteerSpotlight: Steve

From serving on our Board of Directors to providing one-on-one services to clients, Steve is changing lives in a number of ways at Chrysalis!

Before the Bell: Marshall

At Chrysalis, we celebrate with a client who lands a job by having them ring the bell; however, we also recognize the value of celebrating the “little bells” along the way. Hear from Chrysalis client, Marshall, a transitional jobs worker with Chrysalis Enterprises in this Q&A.

Success Bells: Byron

A native Texan, Byron left a history of drug use and a life in and out of the criminal justice system behind and moved to L.A. He was ready for a change, but he was struggling to land a job because of his past.

The Journey Begins: New Roads to Second Chances

“A job gives someone a chance to change their life, but you’ve got to give someone a chance to get a job,” shared Caesar, a graduate of the New Roads to Second Chances program, sponsored by Caltrans and the City of Los Angeles and managed by Chrysalis.

Success Bells: Jonathan

Jonathan grew up with little supervision in a rough neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. Early on, he established himself as a troublemaker, often following the example of the older neighborhood boys. His first trip to Juvenile Hall at 14 years old marked the beginning of 20 years of intermittent jail and prison sentences.

Volunteer Spotlight: Barb

The first thing Barb did when she moved to Santa Monica eleven years ago was search for ways to become involved in her new community. So when she walked past Chrysalis’ Santa Monica center, it was a perfect, serendipitous encounter. Before long, she was plugged in and providing one-on-one services to her new neighbors – […]

Success Bells: Demetrious

While living out of his car, Demetrious tried to hang on to some semblance of his past. He found comfort in his art, drawing the landscape – hard streets decorated with his fellow neighbors living in various states of homelessness.

Volunteer Spotlight: Gretchen

“I can’t encourage people enough, when they retire, to find their niche in volunteering with the population that interests them most,” explains Gretchen when discussing her eight years of volunteer service at Chrysalis and her passion for helping those with criminal backgrounds.

Volunteer Spotlight: Russ

“I live downtown and I felt compelled to do something about the problems I see all around me. Chrysalis allows me to directly help neighbors in need.” -Russ

Unleashing the Power of Community

Stand Together visited Chrysalis to learn how every year we are helping thousands of folks in our community prepare for, find, and retain employment. Check out the video they created about our programs!

Success Bells: Latasha

Latasha came to L.A. to pursue a career helping others. But after her first employer moved the organization to another state and a second opportunity fell through due to economic downturn, she found herself in a tough spot.

Success Bells: Darlene

Darlene explains that after years of receiving support from others as she battled addiction, she decided that she was ready to give back and bring order to her life. Her job as a groomer is one outlet that is allowing her to be of service to others – both humans and their animals.

Success Bells: Hassan

Despite struggling with homelessness for the majority of his adult life, Hassan seeks the good in every day. His search for hope led him from New York to Los Angeles…he did not expect his journey to the West Coast to bring him to our Skid Row neighborhood – a place seen by the rest of the country as the epicenter of homelessness.

Los Angeles Times: Starting on the path to permanent housing

Every morning, John Johnson and Sydney Sheiner set out to chat up the people who frequent places such as the Central Library’s Maguire Gardens, the 4th Street overpass and Pershing Square. Their mission is to contact, interview and assist the roughly 130 homeless people living at any time in the west side of downtown.

Success Bells: Omara

Omara fled to the streets at a young age, because being on her own seemed a better alternative to living in an unstable and abusive home. Drugs eventually became another escape. On a downward path spurred by her addiction, Omara eventually landed in jail and lost custody of her five children. She realized she needed to create a better future for her family.

Success Bells: Raymond

“Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?” For an addict with a record like Raymond, this question became, “Where do you see yourself in the next five minutes?”