We welcome Cynthia Gilliam to Episode 6 of the Prosperity after Prison podcast, who shares her inspiring story and the life-changing decisions she made throughout her life to become the survivor and the incredible mother she is today. Growing up Cynthia went from taking care of herself at the age of 14, living in a small Tennessee town, to ultimate culture shock and sensory overload when she moved to California two years later. Cynthia shares the challenges she was faced with shortly after getting married at 18 years old and starting a family. Surrounded by her husband's verbal and mental abuse, Cynthia was unable to find a sense of safety and stability in her life, and resorted to drugs in attempt to numb the world around her. After a devastating event, Cynthia found herself potentially facing a 51 year sentence in Prison. Putting her faith and trust in God, she made the decision to come clean and relieve the tremendous weight she was carrying for years, ultimately leading to re-discovering herself, rebuilding a new foundation for her life. "I can either sit here and let my time do me, or I can do this time. So at that moment, I knew that I wasn't going to waste a day of my stay. I had to be there. So why not learn about myself, learn about why I was a drug addict. Learn about me. What color did I really like? What did I like to do? Get all the information, all the classes I could do to better myself, because I'm going home one day. I know I am going home. And that's what I told myself every single day, you're going home. It might not be today, but you're going home. And that's what got me through." - Cynthia Gilliam Cynthia shares her present day life, her testimony and how much she's accomplished. Providing encouragement to anyone going through similar obstacles, she touches on the importance of believing in yourself, and working hard to show the world you're not the the same person from your past. Kyle and Cynthia discuss the positive impact Kyle's father, Casey, Kyle, and his sister Kelly have embedded in the hearts of countless people in search of a way to better themselves and persevere just as Cynthia did, by presenting life changing opportunities. Kyle announces the upcoming launch of their nonprofit organization, "Prosperity after Prison programs." This nonprofit is designed to provide financial aid and resources to ex offenders upon release. Select individuals will receive assistance with re-establishment costs to be able to begin working and living immediately after release.