After returning home from 13 years of incarceration, Diego Martinez quickly realized that rebuilding his life would come with challenges.
“I thought society would welcome me back the same way,” Diego shared. “I quickly learned reentry comes with real barriers.”
Despite his determination, finding employment was difficult. Background checks often closed doors before he had the opportunity to prove himself. Everything began to shift when Diego connected with Working Wardrobes through a parolee support meeting and was introduced to the organization’s career readiness services.
Through Working Wardrobes, Diego received resume support, interview preparation, professional clothing, career coaching, and transportation assistance. But beyond the practical resources, the experience gave him something even more meaningful: confidence.
“Working Wardrobes did not just prepare me for interviews,” Diego said. “They helped rebuild my confidence.”
With support and stability, Diego was able to focus on building a future he once thought was out of reach. Today, he is completing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at San Diego State University and works with Project Rebound, supporting system-impacted students as they pursue education and new opportunities.
He also gives back through youth mentorship and community outreach, using his lived experience to encourage others walking a similar path.
“Young people do not just need advice,” Diego shared. “They need living proof that change is possible.”
Diego’s journey is a reminder that employment support is about more than finding a job — it is about restoring confidence, creating opportunity, and helping individuals move forward with purpose.
“Working Wardrobes was part of the bridge between who I was, who I was becoming, and who I am still working to become.”
