We recently connected with Angela Wright and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Angela, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
“I now sentence you to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for a term of 364 months.” The judge said with ease as if hadn’t just told me I would be spending the next 30 years and 4 months in prison as a first time non-violent offender. I was numb. I didn’t yell, kick, or cry. What I thought was a death sentence actually turned out to be my resurrection.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
It’s obvious I didn’t serve the 30 years the judge sentenced me to, but I did serve 14 years. I was able to be released early under the First Step Act. Everyday I believed I would get out of prison early. I told myself once released I would encourage others to get through their most difficult situation (pit) as well as deter the younger generation from following into my footsteps.
I speak at schools, conferences, and prisons encouraging others and helping them to see that their life isn’t over because of a bad decision or hardship.
It’s so rewarding when someone says they are motivated after hearing me speak, or they contemplated taking their life before they heard my story.
My book is available on Amazon, “Pit to Palace Mentality” 10 Key Principles to See Your Way Out of Your Worst Situation. My new Podcast, “Break Phree (pronounced Free) is coming soon.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Faith, Resilence, and Consistency. In anything you set out to do, YOU must believe that you can do it! (Faith) Then you have to be able to keep going even when it looks like nothing is happening (Consistency) and lastly, you have to be able to take a “No” but not allow it to stop you and be able to be laughed at, ridiculed, or even be called crazy (Resilience).
Everyday I would say I’m going home, but I still had 30 years. I would write the President every Sunday. I even sent him Christmas and Birthday cards to the point other people including the guards began to think I was crazy. Remember, it’s delusion until they see it happen!
I didn’t allow any of that negative chatter to distract me from my goal, Getting the hell out of prison! Nothing will ever be impossible to you when you believe, are resilient, and stay consistent.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
I’m currently challenged in raising funds for my non-profit; Chance 2 Change. It’s a non-profit geared towards children who’s parents are incarcerated. Right now there is so much gun violence amongst teenagers and a lot of it stems from children raising themselves, joining gangs to have a sense of family, and just being easily influenced by others. Statistics say if a parent goes to jail then the child is most likely to end up in jail as well. I’m going to change that narrative, but I need help.
Contact Info:
- Website: angelacwright.com
- Instagram: @therealphree
- Facebook: Angela C Wright
- Linkedin: Angela C Wright
- Youtube: Angela C Wright
Image Credits
Bevy J Kenyetta Wilbourn Snapp Tony Shivers
