Hello, I’m Cheryl Ybarra. I became a mother at 16, and by 25, I had four children. Nursing has been my career for 40 years since I started at 20. Over time, I had two more children, and I now take pride in being a grandmother to two granddaughters, a grandson, and several grand puppies. When my third child, Westley James Ybarra, was 13, he became involved with the Juvenile system. He completed an adjudicated program called ROP (Right of Passage), which cleared his juvenile record upon completion. Unfortunately, Westley’s legal troubles didn’t end there. At 17, he committed a crime that essentially cost him his life, resulting in a 42-year prison sentence. As a mother whose son has spent half his life incarcerated, I’ve witnessed the heartache and profound impact on my family. The financial strain of phone calls, commissary expenses, healthcare, and toiletries is overwhelming. I’m excited to be part of E.M.P.I.R.E Foundation LLC, aiming to bring about systemic change and raise awareness for crucial prison reform and the end of recidivism.