40 in 40 Day #4

 Day #4 Scott Silverman was a kid in trouble who grew to be a man in trouble. Learning disabilities left undiagnosed and mismanaged led to shame, shame led to relief through alcohol and drugs. It is a common story. What makes Scott unique?
Reaching the end of the line on a window ledge in New York City, Mr. Silverman had the thought of how easy it would be to simply fall backwards and end what had become an escalating, destructive addiction. A colleague entering the office and seeing Silverman leaning backwards to certain death cried out and Scott made a decision. He chose life. He chose life and became an advocate for the downtrodden and overlooked in our society. Mr. Silverman, who was raised in a loving upper middle class family, began talking to the homeless in San Diego. He volunteered to serve meals and began to ask why the men he saw on a regular basis were not working. Excuses of poor work history, ex-felons, recovering drug addicts were heard by Scott and he quickly dismissed them as excuses. He promised men that if they did what he told them, he could get them jobs. They did and he did. This decision to help grew and today Scott Silverman runs the organization he founded over twenty years ago, Second Chance. He had no knowledge of what a non for profit was or how to start one. He had no idea of where he would get the money needed to house men and then women, fresh from prison. He had no idea and yet he took action. His background was in retail clothing. He had no idea that one day there would be a Scott Silverman Day in San Diego in his honor, he just saw a need and he acted. His action has taken what was once a couple of homeless men into a multi million dollar agency that he still runs. He graduates men and women from a job readiness program that is run like a compassionate boot camp. People who have never been treated with dignity are treated with respect and expected to dress and act professionally from day one forward. Stop by, take a look at the wall of the thousands of men and women who now have jobs, renewed families and have not returned to prison. Many of these graduates are making a difference in their families, their communities, the world, as a result of one man who saw a need and took action.
His Action: Scott called upon his tenacity and belief in the potential of human beings. His book, "Tell Me No. I Dare You!" goes into detail on the hows to get to yes.
Scott Silverman, a man who not only has made a difference he has assured the difference will continue through Second Chance, far into the future.Scott Silverman [ssilverman@secondchanceprogram.org]