CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For nearly 30 years the mission of a Charlotte-area man has been to keep kids out of jail.
Glenn Smith founded the nonprofit organization Life Connections.
His programs are focused on mentoring children, strengthening families, restorative justice, building kinship, mental health services and vocational training.
Rob Holbrook benefited from the program.
“A dozen years ago, I thought that it was over with, that my chance of any type of successful life, that that ship had sailed,” Holbrook said.
Twelve years ago, behavioral problems led to drugs, and he spent four years in the Mecklenburg County jail for attempted drug trafficking.
Glenn Smith received the Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network’s community leadership award. (Spectrum News 1)
“No one was teaching me life skills, the basic stuff, how to manage your emotions, creating purpose. The education that I got in Life Connections is the most important information that I’ve ever gotten in my life,” Holbrook said.
Smith recalls first meeting Holbrook.
“I met him in the Mecklenburg County jail, he came to one of my classes. I mean, you can tell he was sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Smith said. “It’s really nice to see someone who was as down as he was doing so well now.”
The life skills courses led Holbrook to earn his license as a public insurance adjuster.
“I don’t think Glenn really understands how much impact he’s had on my life,” Holbrook said.
At 72 years old, our everyday hero has no plans of stopping his life-changing mission.
“It’s just a real gift when someone turns their life around,” Smith said. “And it makes it all worthwhile, that’s for sure.”
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