Jerome Woods, 57, was on the verge of moving onto the streets after the restaurant where he worked went out of business.
Left with only a pocket full of change, Woods faced eviction from the hotel where he lived.
Woods searched Denver’s streets for a job and a home, but stopped when he noticed a brightly lit cross at downtown’s Denver Rescue Mission.
Two years later, after attending many months of classes, Woods donned a blue cap and gown on Thursday. He picked up a general equivalency diploma and a certificate from the New Life rehabilitation program during a graduation ceremony at the rescue mission.
“I had a street-life attitude, and this helped me get a positive attitude,” Woods said.
More than 46 men and women who live at the mission’s outreach programs, including The Crossing, Champa House and Harvest Farm, earned certificates from the mission’s Learning Education Center and New Life Program on Thursday.
The programs offer educational courses, computer and job skills in addition to spiritual and psychological counseling.
“Our goal is to return people back into society as self-sufficient and as contributors,” said Brad Meuli, president of the Denver Rescue Mission.
Also graduating Thursday was Yuri Frias, 18. She dropped out of Skyview High School in Thornton after becoming pregnant. Frias now works as a customer-service representative at J.C. Penney.
Her decision to finish school came after she recently attended a friend’s graduation.
“I cried because I knew it could be me up there too,” Frias said.
An Internet search brought her to the Denver Rescue Mission website, and she learned about a women’s GED preparation program offered by Champa House. On Thursday, Frias wore her cap and gown and was the only woman to receive a GED.
She dreams of going to college and wants to become a counselor who works with sexual-assault victims.
“I want to help them through their hardships like those who have helped me through mine,” Frias said.
Staff writer Annette Espinoza can be reached at 303-820-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com.