You think homelessness couldn't happen to you. I promise you it can.

Cedric thought he could carry the weight of life on his own. Morgan thought homelessness was something that only happened to “other people.” Both were wrong. They walked into Atlanta Mission on the same day, one step away from giving up, and one step away from a lifetime of friendship. 

This is a story about what happens after rock bottom. 

Listen now. Because the line between “them” and “us” is thinner than you think. 

Transcript

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Morgan and Cedric_Audio Only

Life gives us a lot of weight sometime. And me personally, I've, I've really gone through my life, um, thinking that I can do it on my own until I was placed in a position where I needed help. I mean, it was nowhere to turn, you know? And God acted through Atlanta mission and, and through my, my buddies here to realize I need help.

I need help. And you need somebody to take the weight of life off sometime, you know?

Welcome to Unseen Atlanta and Atlanta Mission Podcast. We believe storytelling has the power to shift perspectives and spark change. Each episode, we will bring you a powerful story from a member of the Atlanta Mission community. I'm your host, Rachel, and I'm joined by my co-host, Jonathan. This season we're focused on what it really means to invest in Atlanta.

We actually have two guests today. Cedric and Morgan are alumni from the Shepherd's End, who are currently roommates, and Rachel, I think the one. Overarching theme from our conversation is the power of community. Yes, the power that community can totally help you through the hardest part of your life. And I hope you guys really enjoyed listening to Cedric and Morgan as they talk about their journey at Atlanta Mission and their journey now as roommates.

We are so excited you're here with us today. We have Morgan and Cedric here with us. We decided to do a duo today, which is very exciting because we're a duo. We are the dynamic duo and then the dynamic duo. This is very exciting. Here we go. So we are here because Morgan and Cedric have both lived at the Shepherds Inn and they have moved out and lived together.

Which is really cool. They're roommates and so we felt like it was a good idea to have you guys both on at the same time. It's also. Morgan's birthday, so happy, happy birthday. Thank you. We won't break out in songs right now, but we really want to. Yeah, we do love to sing. I'd love to start by you both just telling us kind of where you're from, a little bit about you.

So we'll start with you Morgan. My name's Morgan. I'm from, uh, I'm from Covington, Georgia. I was born overseas. In England. In England, yeah. Yes, ma'am. So he's a good British chap, is what he was telling me. Yeah. We, we moved here when I was about five. Okay. And I started school and everything. And, uh, childhood was good.

My family was great. Got a little sister, a half brother. He's like 20 years older than me. Okay. And, um, yeah, just pretty, pretty regular. And your dad died when you were. Uh, 16. Okay. 16. Yes, ma'am. He had a, he had a heart attack at the blockbusters. Hmm. Wow. Took that business down with him. Think about it, it was like 2007.

Took that. Well, I mean, I, I don't Yeah, that's okay. So that was probably a pivotal time in your life. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. I, i, it, it, I definitely started acting up and, you know, it's kind of not caring and, you know, kids, it was already, you're already a 16-year-old boy. Right. And then, you know. So it kind of made me, you know, drugs, stuff like that.

Just not care, not like all the time, but yeah, definitely partying, war and yeah, throwing stuff by the wayside. So, Cedric, where, where are you from? So, originally from San Antonio, Texas, and then around. About the age of 15, I was placed into foster care and, uh, it was me and my three sisters and we were placed into foster care.

And, um, my grandparents adopted me, so my father's mother and father, my grandparents adopted me. So I moved to Jackson, Mississippi for the remainder of my childhood up into college and, um, finished, you know, college there. And, um. Came to Atlanta, Georgia. So, so what was, so you were put in foster care but then taken in by family members?

That's correct. So what was that like at the time? Do you remember it a lot? I do. I remember everything. I was the oldest out of, uh, US four. Um, me and my three younger sisters. It was confusing at the time. Um, I was like a mama's boy, so it was just me and my three sisters and my mother, my father and mother split when I was a young, uh, boy, around four years old.

And, um, so you're used to being around girls. Yeah. Yeah. So I was very protective. Very protective, um, kind of the man of the house, um, at a young age. And, um, it hurt at the time, um, when I went into foster care 'cause I was split up from all of them, you know. Um, so your grandparents, yeah. Your grandparents took you and then your sisters.

Went into another, uh, they were adopted by another, uh, uh, woman. Um, she adopted all three of them. No, uh, my two younger sisters were adopted together. And then, uh, the sister right under me, she's like, two years under me, is a big age gap between the two youngers and. Two younger and two older. Um, but they were adopted together.

My two younger sisters and then the sister under me, she was, um, she just aged out of the system. Okay. Um, so she went on and did her own thing when she, uh, became an adult. Are you in contact with them? I am. Okay. Yeah, so I'm, I'm in contact with them. So you went from like a pretty like full house to being the only one?

Yes. That's correct. Yeah. That must have been really, it was different. Um, um. I wasn't used to like correction as a child because I was used to being like the head, almost the head of the household. Right. You were like, you were the one who was doing it. So my grandparents were very strict. Okay. Um, but very, very loving.

Um, my grandmother, she taught me a lot of things that I wasn't used to learning as a, as a child, I'm, I'm grateful for the experience because I learned a lot of things. She really molded me into who I am today. Um, so it was, it was different. So I got a taste of both, both sides as, as being a child. So I'm curious.

Tell me what happened in your life that brought you to the Shepherdson ab. Sort of give us an overview of that. Absolutely. The year of 2023, um, April 28th. Uh, to be specific, um, I admitted myself into rehab. The reason being, um, I struggled with alcohol for about 11 years total. And um, and then one day I said, you know what?

I'm gonna get help. And, um, I admitted to myself and took accountability for myself and, um, I went to rehab. Mm-hmm. And, um. I was down there about four months total. I came back to Atlanta. Um, I could have stayed down. I was in Florida at the time. I could have stayed down there, but something told me to come back.

Um, tried to get back on my feet as far as job is concerned. Um, I couldn't find a full-time job, so I just ended up taking a part-time job and, um, it money was tight. It was very tight. Um, the end of my lease was coming up, which was in February of. 24 and um, I came to the end of my lease and um, I couldn't.

Signed the, uh, new lease or continue my lease. So, um, I went and stayed with one of my Christian brothers that's here in Atlanta. Um, he allowed me to stay with him about a month or so. And, um, I did a lot of thinking during this time. Um, I had two options. I was either gonna go back to my father's house, uh, which was in, uh, Dallas, Texas.

He lives, uh, in Dallas, Texas at the moment. Um, or I'm gonna stick it out here and, and figure it out. Um, I'm gonna. Find help and, and I chose the second option. And, um, I looked up, uh, shelters in Atlanta, came across a faith-based, uh, organization, Atlanta Mission. And, um, I admitted myself, not admitted, but, um, yeah, I came to Atlanta Mission.

Yeah. I'm thinking of the rehab. Was it the first time you'd ever been in a shelter? It was okay. This, this was my first experience in a shelter experience homelessness, um, altogether. So I was How did it make you feel? I was. At this time at, at around this time, I had been, you know, seeking God about. Four or five years now.

So I knew that I would be okay ultimately, but I was scared. Um, I've never been in through anything like this. Um, fear had really set in and um, I really had to get myself together and through prayer. Um, 'cause if not, I. It would've probably went into another direction. I would've been maybe on the side of a bridge somewhere.

But, um, I really had to get it together in, in prayer and, um, but I, I was just scared. Just scared. I didn't know what to expect. But soon as I came through the gates of Atlanta mission, it was just like, everything just vanished. Whew. Really? Yes. Everything. Wow. Yeah. Everything. So, do you remember who was the first person you met?

Morgan. Really? Wow. We came, we came. No, we came in at the sa on the same day. This is like, this is like freaky Friday. This is weird. Thats, and, uh, we didn't meet on the first day, but I remember seeing Morgan when we came through the gates, but, um, Morgan was the first person I met. Yeah. And it's just, it's just like an unspoken connection you get with certain people or you can't explain it.

And we just hit it off and we've been, yeah. Wow. We're still here today. Yeah. So. Wow. Okay, so, so you guys came in on the same day? That's correct. So, we'll, let's come back to that. But yeah, we're gonna, yeah. Put a pin in that day. We'll put a pin in that. Morgan get, catch us up to speed. What brought you to the Shepherdson?

Me and my kids' mom had split up the, the year prior. And, uh, I'm, I'm an electrician by trade, but I sold my truck. I, I was real depressed, you know, I, I helped my mom fix her house up to sell it. And in this time I just had like a job at the grocery store, you know, just something I could get to 'cause I didn't have a vehicle, well, I saved up some money, got a car, and then I just was Ubering for a while.

I, I got one of these like, efficiency rooms, just trying to figure it out. I was there for a couple of months and then my car got totaled. And I was just, I was just defeated. I just, you know, I sat there. I, I had a, you know, I probably had like three, $4,000 and I knew I needed to do something, but I was just sitting in the hotel room.

I would go down at the end of the week, pay him for another week. This went on for a while. I just, I kind lost, you know, like the homeless thing is different. I, I people. I, I thought what everybody thought. Mm-hmm. You'd walk by, give a guy a dollar or whatever. Mm-hmm. See these people and think like, oh God, how do you even, you know, how do you find yourself there?

Mm-hmm. But it's, you know, it's like I've been when I was younger, getting in trouble, misdemeanor and jail and all that, but that hit different when you're just. Like, oh my God, I don't have a place to stay, a vehicle, anything like that. I just kinda lost all motivation to do it. You know, I, uh, uh, I, same as him, I went to a library one day, like managed to get myself down the street to the library and I looked up, you know, Christian organizations that might do anything about it while I was outside for like two or three days, like proper, you know, like guys on the street thing, you know?

And I was just kind of. Go to sleep, wake up. And uh, yeah, I went to Atlanta Mission 'cause I was, I was like, I needed a shower and I was just kinda, I was at the point where I was like, uh, you know, I might just go jump off a bridge or something, you know. Well your, it sounds like your mental state had gotten so I deteriorate.

Like, I just didn't hope, you know, struggled with all your life. No, no, no. I, uh, I, uh, when I was 27, I, uh. I overdosed on ecstasy and I used to think like anxiety and depression was just people kind of being weak. Mm-hmm. If I was being, you know, I just, I didn't see it and it like, I don't know, it, it did something in my head to where it was like God was like, oh yeah, it's fake.

Here's a heap and helping of it, you know? So I would kind, I would, I would go through these spells of getting real sad or just anxious for no reason. You know, it'd be a regular day and just get up and go crank up my truck to go to work and just, you know, freaking out about everything. Well, um. Till I was about 27, 28.

And then it, it got better for a little while. Uh, you know, uh, uh, my daughter was born. All that got better for a little while, but it would come back in like waves. And after I lost that, I was kind of feeling it coming on anyway. But, uh, whenever I lost that car, I just was. I was over it. You know, I just kind of wanted to give up and, uh, I went to, yeah, I went to the, the, the side of the gate over there at the Shepherd's Inn.

How'd you guys get there? Did you Uh, I, I walked bus. Yeah. I mean, I took the bus and then walked, walked from up the street. Walked. Okay. You know, but, uh, yeah, I, I, I came in and not really knowing what to expect and. You know, 'cause from the outside and it's downtown Atlantic, you know? Yeah. On the one side it looks real posh, but on the other side where they do intake and stuff, it's, it ain't, you know, it's not as posh.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I got in there and took a shower and then they gave us the whole tour and I was like, this place is pretty swanky. You know, like, definitely wasn't what I expected, you know? I mean. Showers, beds, a little wreck area. All the stuff, you know, they try to make it nice. They, they, they really do.

They really do. I mean, and especially once you move up, like, like the, the find hope, choose help is, you know, there's just more people. Mm-hmm. And you got people doing the 30 day thing, right. Or just there for a couple of days, but. Yeah. Uh, James over the head of, of, uh, the men's center, he came by and we were sitting at the table and he was asking Art, do you guys wanna do the program thing?

The program thing? And I said, yeah, sure, I'll, I'll try it. You know, and just over the weeks I started kind of. Feeling better hanging out with these guys? You know, for our listeners, find hope, choose help is, is the beginning of our programming. Yeah. Um, it's, it gives, uh, people like Morgan and Sedric the opportunity to find rest.

Mm-hmm. Relaxation, and then make the next decision whether that's to continue in our program. Or to get to the next best place. Yeah. So in a nutshell, that's what that is. That was a great explanation. Thanks. Um, before we kind of dive into your time at the Shepherdson, it sounds like faith is really important to both of you.

So I'd love to hear did you guys grow up in faith? Like it, you guys both mentioned that you were looking for a Christian homeless shelter. Yes, ma'am. Which is very specific. Yes, ma'am. So I love to kind of hear the part of like, faith, what it plays in your life. So we'll start with you. Um, I didn't grow up.

Particularly, um, as a Christian, um, I mean, I, I remember going to like Baptist church as a child. Um, and then, um, yeah, it, it was nothing more than just going to church, you know, every so often. Every maybe other Sunday. The bulk of my faith came from me seeking God for myself. Um, and I made that decision, um, maybe around.

2019. Um, that's when I first said, Hmm, let me, let me give this a go. Did you just feel like you needed something in your life? I felt, I felt, yes. Okay. I felt it. It, I can't really explain it, it's almost unspoken, but I felt it, um, yeah, it's something greater than this, than me. And then what I'm doing, um, what I was doing at the time, which was really drinking and, you know, not doing nothing with myself really.

So I started seeking God and, um, he started revealing to me like music. You know, stuff that I, I, I've always been a musician, but I've never been like, I, I write music now. Oh, cool. And you know, like Christian music, he started revealing this stuff to me and, um, I just continued and kept going. And next thing you know, I'm sober and next thing you know, I'm homeless and next thing you know, I'm here through homelessness and, and you know, so I think.

We're meant to go through certain, you know, trials, um, to, for our betterment. Mm-hmm. You know, that's what I believe. I, I don't think we can avoid certain things. I don't think I could have avoided. Yeah. You know. Homelessness? I don't think so. You know. But it feels like your faith kind of carried you through that.

It did. It did. Um, and it's stronger, you know, uh, despite me going through homelessness, it's, it's stronger, um, after the fact. Um, so I just, I'm grateful, I'm grateful for my experiences and my hardships in particular because they really molded me into who I am this moment. That's really, really this moment.

Really neat. 'cause a lot of people, um. That we've talked to, you know, they, they get to this place where they have to go to the Shepherdson. Mm-hmm. Um, and at that moment they're, they're angry at God, right? Mm-hmm. Um, they have their own journey, right? So that's interesting that faith is something that, that got you through it.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. What about you Morgan? When I was a kid, uh, kind of the same as said, we, we would go to church. Periodically. Mm-hmm. But my mom was, she, she knows the Bible very, very well, you know, so she would pray with us when we were kids and everything. And, uh, yeah, I, I, I didn't really have like a hard set idea.

It was just kind of the, I. What we all are. Yeah. It's part of your life, so Yeah. You know, Jesus is the Lord. Yeah. You know, blah, blah, blah. And uh, when you said earlier when my father passed away when I was 16, it made me all, oh, there is no God, you know? Yeah. Pitching a fit, little kid stuff. And then, uh, yeah.

The years went by and, um. A few years before the overdose thing, I found myself in like a tough situation. Me and my girlfriend at the time were fighting and da, da da, and I started praying and I, I felt it, it like came back to me. Mm-hmm. Like, I, I claimed atheism, but even in the back of my mind back then when I was like 21, 22, like I didn't really believe it, you know?

Mm-hmm. It was kind of, and you guys remember like the two thousands, God wasn't cool either. Of course. Yeah. So it was the whole thing, you know. But, um, yeah, I, uh. I definitely, definitely, since I've been in there, I mean the first few, few weeks in Atlanta Mission, like I I, years before I started reading my Bible again, and kind of like getting into it, but man, we would go to some of those, those sermons and I was getting talked straight to, you know?

Mm-hmm. Like, but whatever the topic was of like the class, I would just be sitting there like, good god, you know? It would be like almost word for word. Are they talking straight to me? Yeah. Yeah. It felt like the Truman show, you know? I was like, what is going on here? Yeah, that's that. Definitely it. No thank you.

More so than everything I say. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. So you guys, May 20th was when you came, is that the day? Mm-hmm. Yes ma'am. Okay. Mm-hmm. May 20th happened. You walk through the doors and tell us a little bit about, did you, did you originally think you were just gonna stay there for 30 days?

Um, I didn't, I didn't wanna put a date on it. Okay. Okay. So, uh, when I went in, um, I'm, I'm very observant. I'm very quiet that he'll tell you a little bit more than me. You're a thinker. Yes, I am. Okay. Um, so I'm very observant. Um, so really the first 30 days, I'm just observing everything. I'm, I'm standing back.

Watching everything. And, um, I didn't wanna put a date on it, so I said I would, I would give it a hundred percent. I, I knew I would do that. Um, I'm gonna put my all into this and learn what I can while I'm here, but I didn't know, like the process in which being at Atlanta Mission, you know, entailed and, um.

And then once the 30 day came and I found out I can stay longer and, and go through the program, I was like, yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna do it. So I never, I, I didn't want to shortcut it and, and leave early without getting the full, you know, process of why I was there. So, and at that point, are you, like, you're connected to your advocate, you're connected, like you, you now have a team?

That is Right. Right. Looking out for you. Right. You had already gone through recovery, so you had already done some of the work. Right? Right. Um, a lot of work. Did you? Yeah. A lot of work. Did you feel like you, there was still more work to do? Yes. Yes. Um, particularly, um, me being like a little too relaxed and comfortable.

Okay. Um. Okay. Which I believe had some of what, why I was there, you know, um, just, just not aggressive enough where I need to be. Mm-hmm. And, um, just a little procrastination, um, in my life, in the areas I shouldn't be pro procrastinating in, you know? So, um, I just wanted to work on just being, coming outta my shell a little bit more.

Yeah. So you went through the 30 days and then you decided to stay longer and go through and make progress. Yes. Yes. So for you, were you just thinking 30 days? I didn't know if I'd be there 30 minutes. Really? Okay. You know, but, uh, no, no, I, like I said, I was just kind of numbed out when I got in there. I just didn't care about anything, you know?

So yeah, after about 4, 5, 6, 7 days, they started talking. I said, you know what? I might as well give it a shot. What's the worst can happen? And then especially, especially like 30 days in, I was like, okay, I'm gonna do this for sure. You're gonna do it then, you know. 'cause whenever we move to like, uh, make progress, miss Andra and them, they're all great and, you know, they're, they're doing the classes and stuff, but it's also, you had enough time to, you know, it's, it's a certain portion of the day and then you're free to.

Socialize, leave, do what you want to do. You know, I, I think that was, that was really what sold me on it too, that it wasn't like some, you know, like it wasn't, wasn't jail. It wasn't some boot camp. Yeah. It wasn't jail. It was you, you know, you can, you can do whatever you like. And I think the combination of the, you know, the help from counseling or classes, but also just like making buddies and stuff and kind of taking a minute to, 'cause years of, you know, you work, you work, you work, and you never really.

Sit back and say, okay, what am I doing? What is this? What's the goal here? You know, I think that's a piece we don't think about a lot is like people who are going through our program, like, you're on this rat race. I mean, we all are. Yeah. Like, so we may not be homeless, but we're still in this like, constant cycle.

Mm-hmm. You, you really don't get that time to like. In your adulthood to like stop and work on yourself. Exactly. Or work through trauma, think through things. And so it is like such a, it is a really amazing thing if you can do it. Yep. Obviously, you don't wanna be in these circumstances, but it, it kind of gives you this, this portion of time that you would've never gotten before.

Absolutely. Absolutely. And like, like you find out the, the homeless thing. That line is razor thin. Razor thin. Anybody. I would say that any, but like as much as you think it wouldn't happen to you, I promise. I thought it more, you know what I mean? Like, I guarantee you I thought it more than the average bearer going around like, oh, I got this and that.

I mean, a, a couple of things can befall you and you know, there you are. So you're absolutely right. Being able to like, take a, an inventory mm-hmm. Of what's going on. Real quick, I just wanna jump in again for our listeners. Um, you mentioned make progress, so we're just gonna go through the whole program.

Sorry, I'm inside baseball. No, he's our, he's our infomercial. So the camera really quick. Uh, so we, we talked about find hope, choose help. The beginning. Portion, um, after you decide to continue with us, you enter, make progress, which both of you did, um, and make progress is really where the real work begins, right?

Yes, sir. Um, it's, it's our, it's our program. It's where we start to. Um, address the root causes of homelessness, poverty, and addiction. It could be mental health, um, addiction, um, trauma. We start to unpack all these things. And so our program is really designed to, to address those root causes so that when you leave, like you guys have left, um, you never have to come back.

Right? Yeah. Amen. We never wanna see you again unless you're on the podcast. Yeah, right. Morgan, you mentioned. You know, when you got there, you, you're really numbed out. Mm-hmm. Like, you, you were in a much different, like mental state than Cedric was when he started. Absolutely. Um, what happened in the program?

What was the thing that like shifted your perspective mm-hmm. And it was like, hey, there's hope. Yeah. What was that like? Well, I will say, and not to sound corny or whatever, but God overall for sure, you know, praying about it naturally, like feeling it again and, and stuff like that. But I'd say. I'd say, you know, good, good things take time.

Great things happen all at once. Like I was sitting there mm-hmm. One day and we're out at the table and I was like, and I still smoked cigarettes at the time, and I'm like, chain smoking cigarettes. And I was like, like. I don't know. I got angry in a good way. We did one of the classes and like I said, it was like they were talking straight to me and I was like, what am I gonna do?

Quit? I was like, I've been through a, a whole lot to just stop now. Yeah. You know, and kind of got the, the fire back, so to speak. And, and that took, you know, it's, that's, that's all of us every day I think. Mm-hmm. You know, just having to stay on the ground. I don't know. It's, uh, I'm not giving you a good straight answer here.

No, you are. Something like that. No, it's, it's, it's hard to, a tangible thing to describe. No, I think that's what's, so that's what. Hope is so intangible and so tangible at the same time. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And so that's what's so hard about talking about it. Okay. So community. Yes ma'am. You guys came in together, but.

This is not something we, so one of the hearts of Atlanta mission is that we're a community united to end homelessness. That's kind of like our broad, um, what the broad thing that we want, but at the end of the day, it's really important for our clients. We realize that the reason they've come to us is because they've kind of exhausted their community.

They don't have anybody left that they can really engage with. And so that's a really important piece of the puzzle is we think it's the most important piece of the puzzle is that you can't do life alone. Amen. Um, but that doesn't always happen necessarily in the four walls of our shelters. But it seemed to have happened for you two.

Yes. So can you talk a little bit about community? And you guys were obviously open to it. Yeah. Uh, yeah, absolutely. Uh, I was just gonna say that like, you know, my, my kid was born during COVID. Mm-hmm. So if you guys have children, you know, like your social bubble kind of goes away anyway, so it was like double that.

And I used to have a bunch of friends and stuff, but like, I, you know, I got bitter and just didn't, you know, I, I wasn't, I wasn't making the effort to reach out and just kind of woke up and, oh, where is everybody? And I'll say, like. To the community point me and said, and our, our other buddy was talking, were talking about it.

That like, if you're in there now or if you're hearing this now and you're like, I, oh, I got this, da da da. That attitude might be what got you here? Mm. You know, like, you do need to be able to ask for help and, and make friends and stuff like that. How did you guys become friends? We, um, were on the courtyard, uh, one day and, um.

Morgan is a very social person. I, I'm, I'm like the total opposite. You guys don't seem like people who would normally like Yes. I'm the total opposite. Like, I'm quiet, I'm reserved, I'm in my room if I can be all day. Nah, he gets to know you. It's a different story, right. I'm sure. But it just seems like you're the social butterfly.

Yeah, he is. He, uh, ca and sparked up a conversation. I'm like, who is, who is this guy? I said, and, uh, I'm gonna start talking to him and. I was like, I can hang with this guy. Yeah, bet. He's, he's, I mean, it, it, Morgan has a personality that you've been knowing him for years. Yeah. Um, and that was on day one. I just felt like I've been knowing him for years.

It, I just really can't explain it, but thank you. I was like, yeah, I'm, I'm gonna get to know this guy and, and yeah, I'm still here with him. So I think that like there's. I think especially too, like at at TSI, they talk about this a little bit of like, um, as men, like you have to be in community with people, but it's not like sometimes something that you're seeking out or looking for.

Can you talk a little bit about like, the importance of brotherhood and having that It, um, it, it, it relieves, I would say weight. Um, the weight of life, um, itself, um, life gives us a lot of weight sometime. Um, and me personally, I've, I've really gone through my life, um, thinking that I can do it on my own.

Um, well, you had to, yeah. From my childhood, from your C child, you have to here. Yeah. Being by myself, you have to, to, so it, it, it makes sense now. Yeah. I had to do it on my own. Um, well, and you too, hon, honestly, like with your dad dying so young, like you guys both had to take these roles Yes. Of the, the, these male figures.

Yes. Yes. And it molded me to think that this's, I have, I have, I have to go through life like this until I was. Placed in a position where I needed help. I mean, it was nowhere to turn. That's why I believe that God has a lot to do with it because, um, we we're looking for God to act in a certain way or rainbows and sunshine.

But when he hits you from this angle, you know, is, is he still real? Is he still good? Yes, absolutely. So, um, he knows where to. Poke us, you know, to get us to where we need to be. And, um, he poked me in that area. It's, it is pride, you know, to think you can go through life by yourself or without the aid of God.

And, you know, and God acted through Atlanta mission and, and through my, my buddies here to, to get to realize I need help. I need help. And you need somebody to take the weight of life off sometime. Yeah. You know? Well, and it must be comforting, I would think. Um, it's just a overall human experience that we are drawn to people who've had.

Similar experiences, but you guys both ended up in a very unique situation where you're homeless and I'm sure it's comforting to have somebody that you don't have to like explain any of that to Yeah, because you guys did it together. Yeah. It's something amazing about going through a hardship with somebody.

Yeah. And sticking it out. It's, it, it, it creates a bin like no other. Yeah. I mean, you really can't really explain it. You got yourself other, you in the trenches together. You're like, whoa. You know, like, I seen you when we were down. Well, well even, it's like, and it's like as you go through life now. Like when you make new friends, it's like, it's gonna be like, when do you bring it up?

Do you ever talk about it? Do you ever talk about this part of your life? But like, I think with you two, it's like you don't ever have to, even, you guys are there together. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Um, there's something really unique about people that you've experienced something with. So, um, real quick. I just wanted to make this point.

Um, it's, it's one thing just to be friends. Yeah. With, with someone. Uh, but you guys took it a step further. 'cause when you entered, sustain and grow the last part of the program, he's gonna talk about this now. There you go. Welcome. Commercial segue. Isn't it great? Yes. So sustain and grow. That's the last part of our program.

So find, help, choose, help, make progress, sustain and grow. And that is like, you got a job now and now you're in our transitional housing. Mm-hmm. And you're working towards. Um, getting an apartment or something like that. Um, could you guys, uh, maybe Cedric, could you tell us, you guys moved into Fuqua Hall.

Mm-hmm. Uh, tell us what Fuqua Hall is. It's, um, it basically in a nutshell, it gets you, um, back into the habit of being out on your own. Um mm-hmm. Uh, sustaining a job. Um, you start paying rent, um, every month. Um, you have a job by the time you go to Fuqua Hall. Mm-hmm. Yes. Correct. Correct. Because you've gone.

Correct. Did you guys both go through next step? Yes. Okay. We went through the entire program, like every step. Do you wanna pause and tell about next steps, right? Yeah, sure. Actually, uh, could you just tell us what next steps is? Yeah. Tell us what next steps is Morgan. Okay. Uh, you don't have to be as polished as Jonathan on these infos next steps is the last part of the program.

You, you, uh, the. Ladies at the, the other facility and the gentleman, you wake up in the morning and you put on like, you know, suits, you dress to impress and you go to these classes and the first day is jarring 'cause it's a bunch of singing and dancing and clapping and stuff. But, uh, it's a bunch of singing and dancing circle.

And they, Anthony? Yes. Yes. And it, it's, it's. It's like preparation program to get people either back in the work workforce or you know, there's young people, old people for the first time in the workforce. The resume builder class we were saying, I said homeless or, no, that was good. Mm-hmm. I think every, you could, you could give that to people for, 'cause I mean they did a real good job addressing up, like, you know, they ran my resume through a program and it was, uh, so yeah, next steps is the final.

Part of program it, get your job ready, get your job ready. You start searching for a job while you're in next steps. And you know, once you land one they, you ring the bell and they send you off. Yeah. And then you get to go. Once you get your job, then you can move over to Fuqua Hall. Yes ma'am. That's correct.

Yeah. Okay. That's correct. And Fuqua Hall's like little, the, it's Michael Shepherd. We have an episode with Michael Shepherd. Um, you guys should listen to that. And he talks a lot about Fuqua Hall 'cause he's the, um, kind of the lead over there. Mm-hmm. Yes ma'am. Mm-hmm. But it's basically, it's a old hotel that was renovated, um, to be little apartment style rooms that you pay rent for and you can stay up to six months there.

Yeah. Yes, ma'am. That's correct. So did you guys both move over to Fuqua at the same time? No. Um, I, I was the first to move over. Okay. Uh, to Fuqua out of us three, me, Morgan, and our other buddy. Um, I was the first one. I was there. Maybe a So you got or so? Yes. Yes. Okay. So I was there maybe about a month or so before they came over.

Okay. And, and, and, um, started. Working. So yeah, they, uh, it, the end of next steps, uh, they tell, they tell you, alright, now people are gonna go to work before you possibly and don't let it get you down. And I started looking. I, like I said, I'm an electrician, so I started looking for work in my field again. I said, oh, it won't get me down by the third week sitting over there.

Oh. And everybody's going work. I'm sitting there like, what did I imagine I can do stuff? Yeah. Yeah. And then finally, you know, got an offer letter and everything and it was, uh. Yeah, so it said, be to us by maybe a month and a week or two. Okay. So you guys move over to Fuqua Hall and start working. What's that like, like kind of entering back into the world?

Was it jarring? Was it hard? It, it wasn't hard. Um, it seemed to me, it seemed like my first job that I ever had. Uh, I know that's crazy to say. No, no. Yeah. Um, yeah, because. I was a new person, um, almost, um, yeah, that, that, that entire experience as a whole just shifted me into a new, into a new person. It really did.

Um, I, I just wasn't who I was when I came through those gates, um, the year prior. So I was determined. Um, I was motivated. I, I was ready to go. I was ready to go and, and start saving money and really, uh, focusing on, you know, me obtaining, you know, um. A, a new living situation. You know, I was just focused on, um, just yeah, when I le left the, uh, football hall and, and trying to get back on my feet.

So, yeah. How did you feel about entering the, one of the main things I got from Atlanta mission is gratitude. I had never been happier to put my tool belt on. I had to like, borrow off of people at first 'cause I didn't have any money. I had to replace a lot of my stuff. But yeah, I definitely was. You know, I, I'd been bitter at jobs before.

Yeah. I had never been happier to get up on a ladder and start putting stuff together. I mean, I was very, very, very grateful. Like, it, it gave me. Because going through all that, you know, you, you don't really, you are, you are lucky to be healthy enough to get up and go to work every day. And you are lucky enough to, you know, we're blessed enough rather to learn a skill or a trade or a something and be able to go out into the world and apply it.

So yeah, I was, I was very, very happy to go back to work. 'cause I mean, it's, it's not all peaches and cream life's life. You, you know, I've had days since we moved and everything that have been hard, but. You, you really, really are grateful to. Be able to do it. I, I'd look back on times of kicking and moaning and be like, I don't even know what I was thinking.

You know? So perspective changes everything. Yeah. Amen. So a big part of your time at Fuqua Hall, um, is figuring out where you're, where you're gonna go, right? Yes, sir. Um, figuring out apartment, you guys ended up rooming together and there's three of you that room together. How did that all come together?

How did you decide, oh, we can be roommates. Yeah. Were you thinking that or were you like wanting to get your own place? Originally I was gonna get a room, um, kind of similar to Fuqua Hall. Um, just rent a room. Yeah. And, um, these, uh, Morgan and my other buddy, they came and like, let's, let's get a three bedroom.

Um, this was like a month prior to us leaving. Let's get a three bedroom. I was like, Hmm, okay, let's do it. Um, it'll be cheaper, you know, for all of us. Let's do it. And we started looking and we lucked up and found this apartment. Um. So we had a, uh, a meeting with, um, one of the apartment complexes we were originally supposed to be with.

Oh, yeah. Uh, move into, and they, um, it fell through. Okay. They basically didn't have like, room for us. Um, and we just walked across the street to another random apartment complex and it was nicer too. And, um. Yeah, that same day we was like, yeah, this is the apartment. And a week or two later we were signing, you know, signing our lease.

So it just, it just, we just walked right into it. So guys, so guys able to get a better place. 'cause you were all three doing it together. Absolutely. And we're all still trying to save money and stuff too. Right. To, you know, 'cause you gotta replace a vehicle, this, that and the other, but, right. No, it's, I mean, it's a great.

It's a great way to do it. We already know we can live together. Yeah. Like we lived in, we lived in the same room for six months. I know. We can live in the house. If could live 1 6 5 Ivan Allen, we can live anywhere. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. My grandmother always said, uh, you won't know a person until you live with them.

So, um, yeah. You know, I knew these guys. Forward and backward. Yeah. And you guys signed your lease on May 20th. I know that was, that was pretty cool, right? The same day they came in. Yeah, the same day. They came so random, so I don't know what they, that's not random. Yeah, I, that's a good thing. Yeah. That's a sign, guys.

So what's it been like the last few months? Amazing. Amazing. Oh, okay. I was like, oh no. Is this about to be like a Oh yeah. Whatcha about to say? I was like, are we like in a Jerry Springer situation? Amazing. I, I believe we're, we're now adjusted to the new living arrangement. It is been amazing. Um, it's been cool.

We've been having fun going to work, um, playing games, uh, still kind of similar to what, how we were at football hall. It's, it's nothing really changed. Um, yeah. Just having fun and just really relaxing. And we have a pool, so we go swimming. Yeah. Um, yeah, just really enjoying, you know. Our new light. It's like, it's like, and it's, we're we're tightening back up now, but it was kinda like a, a fun phase, like of uh Oh, totally.

It's, it's like, you know, it's you and your butt. It's like college years ago we're like, like, kind of feels like you guys are in a dorm. Yeah. It is kind. It is. That's so fun though. Yeah. It, you we're having a good, I mean, you guys deserve, you just went through Oh mm-hmm. Really intense year. So you guys deserve to have some fun and it's.

Fun. And I cook almost every day. Like I throw down, I throw, oh, me, me and Matthew are blessed. The guy loves to cook. Okay. Okay. I'd eat, I'd eat fast food all the time. We're coming because we love to eat there. You. Please do. Please do. That's so fun. So, wow. What does the future look like for you guys? That's a good question.

Um, and I don't think I can answer it entirely. Yeah. But I will say. Just to continue to progress, um mm-hmm. More so spiritually and, and just mentally and just, just elevating myself, um, and growing, um, mentally and spiritually, just, um, reaching out when I need help, you know? Yeah. I've learned that, you know, just reach out and, and not hold it back.

You know, when you need help, but when you have something to say to somebody you know, that is beneficial for them and just yeah. Just continue to grow and progress. Mm-hmm. Ultimately, that's what I want. I love that for myself. What about you? Same sort of thing. I mean, definitely. I, I, the whole reason I did all of this is to, you know, get my relationship with my daughter back.

Right. You know, keeps it, but now I have, uh, you know, a group of people that can help see me through that and everything, you know, like, uh, I definitely, you know, at some point get a house, get everything situated, you know, get my. Get the me and my kid thing back on. Good ground. It sounds like you're gonna still need Cedric to be there to Oh, yeah, yeah.

No, I, I'm gonna, I'm gonna definitely, definitely, like I said, yeah, that's, he's gonna hire me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look what, whatever wife I have, I'll be like, look, you just go sit down at five o'clock, settle with the van. I love that so much. This sounds like super cheesy, but this is like you guys' relationship and just this conversation is exactly kind of what the vision we have at Atlanta Mission is, is that at the end of the day that when you leave the four walls of the mission, that you have people there with you, um, and that you're doing life together and that life is not 'cause once you leave.

Atlanta mission, life is still gonna be life. Yep. And it's still gonna be hard, but it's really the people that we have around us that can help us through that. Um, I would love to know, what would you say to someone who's walking through the doors for the first time today at TSI? What would you say to them?

Um, I would say. Just go forth, go through it, go through it. A lot of things we don't understand until we look back on it in retrospect. Um, and fear is disabling, it'll, it'll stop us from, stop us from growing. So I would just say, go through it. Just go through the gates. Don't, um, just don't think twice about it.

Just go and, and, and learn what you can while you can, while you're there. Um, yeah, just go through it. Yeah, I would, I would say definitely. To y'all's point, like go in there. I mean, take advantage of all the resources and everything, but the people around you are a resource as well. You know, you gotta, we're men.

It's how we are. We're just, I don't need no help. I'll take care of this, da, da, da. But definitely when you start leveling with people, you realize you got a lot more in common and you, you know, if you can't go under it or over it, you gotta go through it. You gotta go through it. I would tell 'em, do the program, keep your head down, it's gun up.

It's gonna anger you at times. There's gonna, it's gonna suck. There's gonna be times that are rough, but, uh, you, you won't regret it. Yeah. Hmm. Hmm. Well, thank you guys so much for being here. Thank you. I hope you guys got to see just the amazing people that Cedric and Morgan are and their friendship. We're so grateful that you guys took the time to come do this and share your story because it is.

It, it's, it's unique, but it's so, um, necessary. So we hope that you guys keep listening and thanks for being here with us today. Hey, we just wanna say thank you to our season sponsor, unseen Atlanta is proud to be sponsored this season. By the Scott Pryor Law Group at Scott Pryor Law, they treat every client like family.

If you've been injured, their mission is simple. You focus on healing, and they handle the rest. Scott Pryor, a US Marine and trial attorney, and his team believe in compassion, justice, and serving their community. If you or a loved one has been injured, reach out to the Scott Pryor Law Group today. They'll walk with you every step of the way.

You can learn more. At Scott Pryor law.com Thanks for listening to Unseen Atlanta. If today's story moved you, we invite you to take the next step, whether that's volunteering your time, donating to Atlanta mission, or simply continuing to listen and learn every step matters. Follow along. Share this episode and join us as we invest in Atlanta together.