Reynaldo Aguilar

Reynaldo ​Aguilar was a misguided youth, at the age of 12 got involved in a gang. Through that gang affiliation he got involved in a life of drugs and criminal activity. By the age of 19 he was arrested and convicted for aiding and abetting in a first-degree felony. Reynaldo was sentenced to 28 years to life. After being convicted and being sentenced, at the very beginning of his incarceration he came to very clearly realize how he was the architect of his destiny and how he was living out the consequences of his choices. It was then Reynaldo started taking responsibility for his actions and life choices. He made that decision and took that difficult stand on a maximum-security prison facility.

His faith in God helped him to forgive himself for the life he had lived and taught him not to allow those poor choices to define him as a person. He then renounced all association with the gang, got sober, and began to make the best investment he could ever make which is in himself! He's worked hard to educate himself. He's earned two Associates Degrees, one in Business and the other in Social & Behavioral Science, a Drug and Alcohol Specialist Certification I & II. The last 10 years of his incarceration (2010 - 2020) he spent mentoring other inmates who were struggling with addictions and who were trying to change their lives. During his incarceration he achieved numerous certificates in Anger Management, Non-Violent Communication, Victim Impact, Stress Management, Alternative to Violence, Communication (public speaking through Toastmasters, and has become very acquainted with the 12 steps of NA. He has facilitated numerous groups and created two program curriculums (Money Matters - Financial Literacy & Prisoners Organizing Workshops for Effective Rehabilitation P.O.W.E.R. to assist other inmates in their rehabilitative efforts) and became head Chairman (elected by his peers) of Timeless, Youth Offender Program Mentors, Narcotics Anonymous, and Criminal Gang members Anonymous (CGA). He has received laudatory chronos from institutional facility Captains commending him for the rehabilitative work he had done on their yards.

On July 18, 2019 at his first Board of Prison Terms Hearing he was found suitable for parole by the parole board of prison hearings and that decision was upheld by Governor Gavin Newson on December 12, 2019. On March 16, 2020 he was released from Prison after completing the statutory requirement of his prison sentence. Being released at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic nation-wide quarantine had made his transition somewhat difficult, but managed to continue his education by getting certified with California Association of DUI Treatment Providers (CADTP). He was granted early discharge of parole because of all the mitigating factors in his case (i.e. college, after care, employment, and his continued efforts to give back, etc.)

As “Hurt people, hurt people...Healed people heal people!” Today, he believes his past experience and education puts him in a unique position to assist others on their journey to wholeness. He understands how trauma (pain) that is not dealt with and transformed is transmitted in destructive ways, he understands what it takes to overcome certain obstacles, to achieve tools in order to maintain sobriety and work toward inner healing. One of the best qualities he possesses that will serve him well as he works with others is empathy, the ability to be patient and understanding with other people and their struggle.

Today, he tries to be everything he needed as a youth which is a mentor, a voice of reason, peer support, someone who sees the potential of people when they don’t see it for themselves.