A little over a year ago, Locklan came to the Altadore program, though this was not his first time having a place in the house. Locklan was originally supposed to join the program about six months before that, but he was struggling immensely with substance use, homelessness, gang involvement, and grieving the loss of his mom, who had passed away the year prior from a drug poisoning. And so, when he was offered a space at the program the first time, he was not interested or ready. Fast forward to August 2022, and Locklan tentatively agreed that he would give the program a try.
It was very clear when we first met Locklan that he was nervous and that his trust in the people eager to know him and care for him was non-existent. For the first four months that he lived in the program, the only time we would see him was when we drove him to school or his girlfriend’s house, and he would spend the night at the house only 1-2 days of the week. It was not always easy to build a relationship with this kid, and the driving did get challenging at times, but slowly, he started to extend his trust and build connections. Little things started to change with Locklan, and these changes told us that he was starting to feel safe and that he belonged. When he first moved in, Locklan clearly stated that he didn’t care what his room looked like and that he didn’t want to decorate. As time went on, we saw little things make their way into the room—like a card from a family member, a stuffy from his girlfriend, and finally, a beautiful picture of his mom. Eventually, he started to spend more time at the house and with his peers. He started to listen when his peers and the team told him how much people liked him and how much we enjoyed having him around.
Over the last year, we’ve had the privilege of earning Locklan’s trust, supporting him in his journey toward adulthood, and learning about who he is as a person. He is a very kind young man who loves music and will passionately tell you incredible details about an artist or the story behind a song. He is deeply caring and empathetic—when he saw a sibling he had not seen for many years, he calmly approached their shyness with understanding and let them know that it was okay if they didn’t remember him, but that he was their brother and he loved them very much. He also has an incredible amount of grace and forgiveness when he speaks of his mom. This grief is incredibly complex and evolves with time and understanding, though Locklan consistently reflects on the struggles that his mom experienced and how he knows, without question, that she loved her kids immensely.
This last year has been challenging for Locklan; he is a young man who independently made the decision to walk away from gang involvement, to stop using opiates, alcohol, and methamphetamines, and to take an incredible leap of faith in accepting support from a house full of strangers. As time goes on, we are fortunate to be able to increase our connection and support of Locklan, and he reaches out consistently when he needs help or wants to talk. Today, he spends almost every night at the program; he likes to be in the house and around the people he lives with. Over the summer, he enjoyed helping with gardening and going camping. Though he did share that he felt homesick when he was away from the house.
And with that, here are a few comments from Locklan on his experiences at Altadoe:
The very first time you came to Altadore was not the time that you moved in… What was that time like for you?
“[I was] angry because I just got arrested for something that I wanted to keep doing. I was also drunk. The police brought me here. I was confused. [Then] I moved to the northwest and a friend’s mom took me in and I worked at her [place]. [But] I felt on edge all the time. Ready for something to happen [to me] all the time.”
What do you think was the thing that made you think you wanted a change?
“[A] Cop had a talk with me and told me that I couldn’t live that life forever and he would take me to jail if he caught me again. Then I gave Altadore a try. That cop changed everything.”
What did you think of your first day at Altadore, what was it like?
“[I] thought the kids around here would be [like at Ave]. [I] thought it would be sketchy like Ave. I was scared. But then I felt good because I knew all the kids. I didn’t feel as scared anymore.”
What did you think of your room?
“[My] room was ‘perfect, absolutely perfect.’”
How was it with the staff and the structure of the program?
“[I] felt safer and better than before, but [I still] stayed [most] nights at [my] girlfriend’s.”
What do you think of the activities that we do together?
“I think they’re good, awesome, can we go to a movie tonight?”
What does Altadore mean to you?
“It’s a place where I’ve grown [a lot]. [I] found a way to trust in people. [Altadore] makes me happy.”
