Dylan Stokes had closed himself off to the world. After going through a series of personal losses and his mother being diagnosed with breast cancer, he began making destructive choices that affected those around him. Dylan was in and out of incarceration at Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center as a teen and was given an ultimatum: finish school or go back to jail. With a referral from the Tarrant County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Court Judge Mary Tom Cravens Curnutt, he chose to go back to school through Goodwill’s E-Squared program.
E-Squared (E2) gives at-risk youth, ages 16-24, the opportunity to earn their GED and a paycheck at the same time. With help from state-certified instructors, youth specialists and Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County students spend half the day in the classroom and half the day working at Goodwill stores and facilities. Students gain the tools they need to pass their GED exams, along with life skills to help them navigate adulthood.
Dylan excelled in the E2 program, completing his coursework within three months. Youth Specialists helped him overcome his self-doubt, allowing him to recognize his potential. Dylan was named Graduate of the Year in 2023, in part, due to his drive and ambition to turn things around. Soon after graduation he found employment with his uncle and is now working to obtain his master electrician’s license. His journey has inspired his family, and he hopes to extend the same spirit of kindness to others.