The Rest is still Unwritten – Ranesha’s Story
March 7, 2025Overcoming the Odds
Growing up in Baltimore, Ranesha faced constant financial hardship in a household of five. She worked multiple dead-end jobs but believed she was meant for more. In 2015, she earned her CDL license, hoping it would open the door to a better future. Life, however, had other plans.
Personal challenges and tragedy pushed Ranesha onto a difficult path that ultimately led to incarceration. In that moment, it felt as though her story had come to an end.
A Second Chance
Just weeks before her release, Ranesha received a second chance when she was accepted into Vehicles for Change’s Virtual Reality Training Program. At first, she joined simply to pass the time. It didn’t take long for her to realize the program offered far more than that—it gave her a real opportunity to start over.
Through the program, Ranesha gained valuable technical skills and, more importantly, rediscovered her sense of purpose. By the time she was released, she carried something she hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.
Building Skills and Confidence
“Ray excelled in the VR training program while incarcerated and attended training every day until she completed the program,” said Terence Grandy, Subject Matter Expert for Vehicles for Change’s Virtual Reality Program. “Once she came home, things only improved. She was accepted into our paid internship program, and that’s when she really impressed me. Her hands-on skills were incredible and watching her perform a brake service was truly inspiring.”
A Future in Motion
In July 2024, Ranesha began an internship with Vehicles for Change’s Full Circle Auto Training Program. Within months, she earned four ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certifications. Today, she works as a truck driver with Lonewolf Logistics LLC and is building a future filled with promise.
Her success did not go unnoticed. In 2024, Vehicles for Change honored Ranesha with its prestigious Graduate of the Year award, recognizing her outstanding achievements in the Full Circle Auto Training Program.
“The Full Circle Auto Training Program didn’t just teach me a trade,” Ranesha reflects. “It gave me a future. It reminded me that my past doesn’t define me.”
