At 54, Lorenzo Hardy finally feels like a productive member of society.
He usually wears a three-piece suit — fedora and all — fluently discusses civil disobedience theory and estimates that he has read more than 2,000 books. He is also a twice-convicted felon, three years out of prison after a 20-year sentence.
Hardy served two decades in the Atlanta federal penitentiary. When he was released in July 2014, he knew he needed a plan to cope with his past — both his life working the streets and his mental health challenges. Three months later, he earned a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certification from the state and began working with inmates whose experiences hit close to home for him. He helps them in their recovery and re-entry into society.
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