Jeffery Hamlet, a Seattle dad of seven children, delivered an impromptu message of hope and motivation during a webinar put on by the Washington Fatherhood Council. The 90-minute webinar was about supporting fathers and families after dads are released from prison.
The 6-minute video below is a selection of clips of Mr. Hamlet speaking during the event. He talks about rehabilitating himself, what it felt like when he got out of prison, his improving job situation, co-parenting, and what it takes to improve one’s life.
‘A pinch myself moment’ – Jeffery Hamlet
Below is an edited transcript of the video above.
Jeffery Hamlet: Hope is out there. As long as you’re looking for hope and wanting hope, you can get it. And as you’re getting hope, share hope with other people. That’s what I’m here for. I want to share the hope, and let everybody know in this program there’s a whole bunch of hope!
Voiceover by Blair Daly: This video focuses on Jeffery Hamlet, who was one of the dads featured in a webinar put on by the Washington Fatherhood Council. The topic of the webinar was supporting fathers and families after dads are released from prison.
Jeffery Hamlet: My name is Jeffery Hamlet. I’m currently in Seattle, Washington.
Before incarceration I always was there with my kids. From birth I’ve been there every step of the way. I’ve never lost contact with them.
I have seven kids in total — 5 daughters and 2 sons. My baby boy is staying with his grandma, my two daughters are staying with their mom, another daughter is staying with my sister.
One of my sons got killed by his mom’s boyfriend. Two days later I was incarcerated.
While I was doing time I started to rehabilitate myself mentally and physically. I was looking for programs that would help me. I found out about the Strength in Families program.
I wanted to share my voice and maybe help another father, because if I was able to do it incarcerated, they should know that they can do it too.
Tera McElravy, Corrections Specialist with the Strength in Families program: What other sort of obstacles have you encountered since you’ve been released?
Jeffery Hamlet: It was a pinch myself moment when I actually got back out in society. When I got out I’m like ‘This is real’. I’m looking around, the bus numbers have changed, I’m worried about if I’m going to make it to my destination on time.
Seeing people smoking fentanyl on the streets and the police not doing anything about it — that was very overwhelming.
But the biggest struggle I’m dealing with right now is the grieving process. I don’t know how to go about that. I’m currently talking to a counselor. I’ve been starting the grieving process, and no one else in my family has started. I want to show that leadership, and show them how to grieve.
Tera McElravy: Jeffery, I’ve watched your journey and have been so impressed with you taking the higher road, and learning to forgive, and deciding to do what you need to do to bring your family back together again, despite all of this hardship and horribleness that you’ve had to deal with. It takes a really strong person.
Jeffery Hamlet: I appreciate that. Thank you.
See also: Dads Should Increasingly Benefit from Flexible Working Arrangements
On having hope
Jeffery Hamlet: I wanted to talk about some positive parts about the program.
The re-entry center really helps you get established and build a foundation, so when you get out you already have something going. You have thousands of dollars in your pocket. There’s so many resources that they help you with to get on your feet.
For instance, I got a job at MOD Pizza. I started as squad. A month later I got promoted to all-star. Two months later and now I’m a shift captain. I’m two positions away from owning my own MOD Pizza store.
As long as you want to change yourself, all the resources are there. And resources are just meant to give you a push. They’re not going to get you right 100%. It’s like if you want to fly. The resource is one wing, but you have to develop that other wing to get you in the air to actually take flight, right? So you have to push yourself to want to get right. But as long as you have some type of support, you know you got this.
That’s all somebody needs is some type of hope. Hope is out there. As long as you’re looking for hope and wanting hope, you can get it. And as you’re getting hope, share hope with other people. That’s what I’m here for. I want to share the hope, and let everybody know there’s a whole bunch of hope!
Anne Stone, Director of Washington Fatherhood Council: Wow!
Tera MeElvary: That is amazing! I’m so glad we’re recording this session.
Co-parenting
In the remaining two minutes of the video, Jeffery Hamlet and Anne Stone talking about co-parenting. Watch the video.