Robert’s Story

Robert Gilbert is a proud single father of 4 children who grew up in the South Valley and Westside of Albuquerque. 

As a young man he aspired to make a career in the military with recommendations to West Point. He was on track to earn an MBA by age 23. However, he was soon introduced to street drugs and was hooked instantly. He spent a good 5 years off and on using and chose to end his education after receiving an associate degree and chose a life of crime and drug use instead.

He was arrested several times and spent over 3 years incarcerated. Three major life experiences happened that help to turn his life around. He had a shot gun pulled to his head and thought he was going to die. A good friend of his was murdered. And finally, the friends he was hanging with were arrested for armed robbery. These things among many others forced him to rethink the choices he was making. He sincerely prayed to God for the first time and decided to turn himself in to the courts. He completed a program called Comienzos while incarcerated at MDC, where Robert learned anger management, yoga, and meditation. He was released from jail and took these new skills and began a new life. 

He was 2 ½ years clean before being sentenced to prison for the things he did in the past. He took his punishment with a deep understanding of why he was being sentenced. Robert looks at his prison experience as one of the greatest things to ever happen to him. He came out even more grateful for life and hungry for personal development. He participated in a parenting class offered by Fathers Building Futures and decided to work with the program to better his life. He has been with the Fathers Building Futures program for nearly 6 years, currently working as a Bookkeeper and Accounting Assistant while striving to give back to others.

-“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”

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