Craig

Craig’s life had been less than ideal, to say the least, when he entered AWOL’s programs in 2005. As a 19 year old, Craig was living and working in Midway, Ga. A high-school drop out at the time, Craig had spent nearly all of his adolescent life in a youth detention center leaving him little hope for a prosperous future if he had any hope at all. To make matters worse, when he left the YDC at the age of 17, his mother and father were absent, robbing him of a stable home life. Then while at work one day, Craig heard a radio spot advertising auditions for AWOL’s first-ever Hip-Hop History Play, now called “Act Up.” With no acting experience, he was not sure what he might do for the audition but he decided to come anyway, in his work uniform. What would happen to Craig after becoming involved with AWOL would be life changing. On the last night of three sell out shows, after the curtain closed, Craig would express to his cast mates tearfully that “he had never experienced something this positive in his life.” Craig would also tell them, that they were lucky to have the family members that had come to see their performance because no one, absolutely no one, had come to see him perform. AWOL would become Craig’s family for the next three years and it was through that positive mentorship that Craig would go on to complete his GED even after three failed attempts. He even met the Mayor of Savannah, Dr. Otis Johnson, and became enrolled as a student at Savannah State University. Craig no longer attends SSU but decided to enter the workforce early at a local firm in an entry level Sales position. Craig’s attitude about life is positive and full of hope for the future. He also still comes by the AWOL office and events to offer support and encouragement to new youth.