After 30 Years in Prison, Robert Benson Gives a Beautiful Speech About Redemption and Work
Every human being changes over time; we evolve, mature, learn, and grow. In an ideal world, we are not defined by our mistakes.
When singer/songwriter Caitlin Crosby started a jewelry company called The Giving Keys, she found inspiration in the first idea above: that, like keys, people can become lost and damaged, but we are all unique and belong somewhere. Caitlin wanted her jewelry to provide comfort and promise to the wearer, and then to be passed along to a new person who needed a spark. What she didn't know at first, however, was that her business would provide inspiration in more ways than one, by embracing the idea that no person is wholly defined by his or her mistakes.
A chance encounter with a couple living in homelessness gave Caitlin an idea. As a business owner, Caitlin had the power to deliver happiness not only through the products she sold, but also through the production of the products themselves. She decided to start offering jobs to people recently released from prison. In the transition from incarceration to integration in society, people can face many roadblocks; getting a solid job is one of them. By making a point to hire men and women during that transitional period, The Giving Keys offered an easier path to employment and self-sufficiency.
Robert Benson is one such person who found a job at The Giving Keys. A motivated worker, he turned the temporary gig into a full-time position. We were lucky enough to be at his "bell-ringing ceremony" which celebrated his promotion to full-time work. Prepare to be deeply touched by his beautiful speech on the occasion, captured in the video above.
Stay connected with Caitlin Crosby on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Stay connected with The Giving Keys on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
This HooplaHa Original video was produced by Brett Dahlenburg. To see more of HooplaHa's original good news, follow us on Facebook and sign up for our Only Good News Newsletter.