“I took a stand and I’m proud of myself,” said community member Joe*, after his case came to a close earlier this year. Joe came to Beyond through community partner, Blocks Together, in December 2022. He wanted support because he felt wrongfully terminated. His main goals were to prevent his ex-employer from mistreating anyone else and to hold them accountable. Joe’s employer lied about Joe having a criminal record, leading to his firing a month into the job. Blocks Together and Beyond took on the case, and Joe was assigned to work alongside attorney Michael Drake.
Joe enjoyed working with his attorney, saying, “I felt confident working with Michael. He made me comfortable.” Joe admitted that while the case moved slowly, “I never gave up. I might have lost hope without Michael.” Thankfully, Joe, alongside Blocks Together and Beyond, reached a positive result.
Joe’s journey is a testament to resilience and the power of community support. He stood firm, faced adversity, and emerged victorious. Inspired by his experience, Joe now passionately advocates for others to stand up for their rights. “If I can help people, I refer them to Blocks and Beyond because their programs are helpful. I always try to do the right thing. They helped me, so I want to pass it on. People struggle, everyone needs help. It’s worth the fight,” he said. His parting words resonate deeply: "Don't give up... fight your battles all the way."
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*name has been changed to protect privacy