Terah Lawyer
Impact Justice
Oakland, CA USA
"My education has been the one thing that no one can ever take away from me. It is priceless."
Career Roadmap
Terah's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Law, and Helping People
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
James Logan High
Bachelor's Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
San Francisco State University
Certification
Drug/Alcohol Certification
California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators
Bachelor's Degree
Social/Behavioral Science
Feather River College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Program Manager:
Bachelor's Degree: Business Administration and Management, General
Certification: Drug/Alcohol Certification
Bachelor's Degree: Social/Behavioral Science
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
In 2008, I became a certified peer health educator and began educating the prison population on healthy practices and communicable diseases and fell in love with connecting with the community.
2.
In 2010, I achieved my first associate’s degree in Social and Behavior Science through Feather River College.
3.
I was elected as the Chairperson for an inmate-led organization called the Beyond Incarceration Program in 2011. I had the pleasure of leading a team of 24 members to conduct prison outreach efforts.
4.
In 2012, with the support of my mother, I started a business called Criminal Offender Reform Establishment (C.O.R.E.), which provides correspondent educational materials to incarcerated students.
5.
In 2013, I created the Bully-Awareness Workshop and organized a team of incredible leaders to present the curriculum and combat the bully problem that exists in the prison population.
6.
In 2015, I developed a program called Offender Responsibility, an eight-week intense course to educate others on Victim Impact Awareness, Accountability, and Making living amends.
7.
In 2016, I earned a second associate's degree in business from Coastline College. In 2017, I became a certified drug and alcohol counselor. Upon my release in 2017, I continue to serve my community
8.
In 2018, I began working with Impact Justice as the Program Manager for an innovative program called the Homecoming Project. I sit on the board of two organization and am a full-time student at SFSU.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Having a criminal record will prevent you from advancing in your career pathway. With a criminal record, you will only be able to secure employment in entry level jobs.
How I responded:
My education has been the one thing that no one can ever take away from me. It is priceless whether it is being directly utilized in the work that I do or nurturing my cultural differences and helping me to connect with others.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
As an African-American lesbian with a criminal record, I live w/ four minorities: being a female, formerly incarcerated, a lesbian, and African-American. This used to deter me from letting my light shine until I found the power in sharing my truth.