At the young age of 15, Cristen was placed into Porter-Leath’s Sarah’s Place program. Cristen’s turn-around success story can inspire anyone who has faced hardship in life. Before coming to Sarah’s Place, Cristen was in junior high and began to sell drugs in order to help his mother pay the bills. Eventually, his mother was evicted, leaving Cristen homeless and searching for friends to stay with for days at a time. After getting into a car accident that put him in the hospital, Cristen began a short path that led him to Sarah’s Place for a 6-month stay. Sarah’s Place turned Cristen in the direction of a successful life through independent living programs and the job development programs, while Cristen was simultaneously able to earn several certifications, such as his GED. When interviewed about how Porter-Leath and Sarah’s Place affected his life Cristen said, “Because of the tools given to me at Porter-Leath, I’ve never been arrested, and I’ve always kept employment and a roof over my head.” Cristen has now found his passion in the food & restaurant business where he is currently working to expand his skills and saving to open his own business. Cristen’s goal is to use his experience to inspire and mentor children that are in the same situation he was able to grow from to become the successful man he is today.
