Embark on an emotional voyage with Veronica Edwards as she sits down with the remarkable Jennifer Aviles, whose life narrative defies all expectations. From the dynamic corridors of the New York City mayor's office to a period Jennifer whimsically calls "the spa"—her metaphor for prison—her tale is one of fierce resilience and the potency of redemption. Jennifer opens up about her vibrant but turbulent past, her motherhood journey, and how she navigated the path to reclaim her place in society, eventually finding a new calling in the heart of Buncombe County, North Carolina. Her candid disclosure offers a stirring testament to the unwavering human spirit and the boundless capacity for transformation.
Amidst the backdrop of personal reflection and reinvention, we confront the harsh truths about the herculean task of reentering society post-incarceration. The episode shines a light on the essential fortitude needed to face rejections and rise above the stigma that trails a criminal record. I reveal my coping strategy—taking a day to process setbacks before soldiering on with steadfast resolve. Jennifer's ascension into the world of accounting at 44 stands as an unwavering beacon of hope, challenging listeners to embrace their potential for growth at any stage in life. Join us for an episode that intertwines the raw authenticity of second chances with the inspiring journey of self-belief and renewal.
Embark on an emotional voyage with Veronica Edwards as she sits down with the remarkable Jennifer Aviles, whose life narrative defies all expectations. From the dynamic corridors of the New York City mayor's office to a period Jennifer whimsically calls "the spa"—her metaphor for prison—her tale is one of fierce resilience and the potency of redemption. Jennifer opens up about her vibrant but turbulent past, her motherhood journey, and how she navigated the path to reclaim her place in society, eventually finding a new calling in the heart of Buncombe County, North Carolina. Her candid disclosure offers a stirring testament to the unwavering human spirit and the boundless capacity for transformation.
Amidst the backdrop of personal reflection and reinvention, we confront the harsh truths about the herculean task of reentering society post-incarceration. The episode shines a light on the essential fortitude needed to face rejections and rise above the stigma that trails a criminal record. I reveal my coping strategy—taking a day to process setbacks before soldiering on with steadfast resolve. Jennifer's ascension into the world of accounting at 44 stands as an unwavering beacon of hope, challenging listeners to embrace their potential for growth at any stage in life. Join us for an episode that intertwines the raw authenticity of second chances with the inspiring journey of self-belief and renewal.
Be sure to visit BizRadio.US to discover hundreds more engaging conversations, local events and more.
Veronica :
Welcome to the Veronica Edwards show, where we have fun financial conversations that everyone listening can apply to their personal and professional life. I'm your host, veronica Edwards, so excited to be back here, season three on bizradious. As always, I want to thank the V Team. We are less than 300 downloads away from 4,000 downloads, which is a big goal of mine before we start season four in the fall, and I know that today's show is going to be another amazing show that's going to add to those downloads.
Veronica :
So today's guest is a mother of two daughters originally from New York whoop, whoop, so am I and has been in Asheville for the last eight years, making it all about me similar to myself, and this guest is a 2016 graduate from AB Tech. She currently serves Buncombe County as Administrative Coordinator and Non-Discrimination Ordinance Coordinator. I had the privilege of meeting this guest about a week or so ago when I was moderating a Building Bridges panel, and Building Bridges is a non-profit here in Asheville that fosters anti-racism by educating people on how to intentionally engage in dialogues about racism. So, without further ado, I would like to introduce today's guest, ms Jennifer Aveles.
Jennifer :
Thank you so much. It's a pleasure being on your podcast.
Veronica :
Thank you for coming, jennifer, thank you, thank you, thank you. You know I just shared that we met recently, in April. This is going to air in May on Building Bridges, which I've heard amazing things about. Building Bridges it's its 30th year anniversary, but of everybody on the panel I was just like your story. I was like, oh my gosh, I have to have Jennifer on my show to share your amazing story because you have a testimony and I'm just so proud of where you are, just the little bit that I have learned about you since building bridges. So I would love we always start the show, jennifer, asking the guests to tell us about you, where you're from and what led you to Asheville.
Jennifer :
So those are pretty simple questions for me. I'm a New Yorker, born in Manhattan in New York, and I was raised in the Dominican Republic until the age of 15. But I traveled back and forth, because a lot of people ask how my English is still so good. So it's like, how did you still have your English? And it's like, oh, because I still traveled. My grandparents and my mom made a point of moving me back and forth during breaks so I never lost my English. And then in the Dominican Republic, my dad had cable for me, so I was immersed in English TV as well, so I never lost it. I might have lost the accent a little bit, but I still have, you know, able to speak it pretty good.
Jennifer :
I came back to New York and by the age of 15, and I graduated high school and college in NYC and I started my first job at the mayor's office for the chief of staff, which was Anthony Carboneri, which was under Giuliani. Wow, yes, I love that job. I was actually part of the 2000 celebration when the big bang was going to happen and everybody was in this uproar that in 1999, the banks were going to close and everybody was withdrawing their money, Y2K.
Veronica :
I graduated high school in 2000. So I remember we were like what's going?
Jennifer :
to happen. Oh my God. My mother took all her money from the bank and she swore everything was going to shut down. So it was this big uproar. I became a mom and I decided to be a stay at home mom, and New York to me is it's amazing, but it wasn't where I wanted to raise the girls.
Jennifer :
I have two amazing girls and my ex-husband and I decided to move to North Carolina. I think I was here for a while and it just wasn't working for me, for my mental health, and I became very depressed and certain things led to unforeseen circumstances in my life and I ended up going to prison, which I will be calling it the spa.
Veronica :
I love that you know. Back then we say you know they up north, you know they're away.
Jennifer :
My mother called it the spa.
Veronica :
The spa.
Jennifer :
Anytime my mother, anybody asked my mother where I was, she's like, oh, she's at the spa. So for whatever reason, it has stuck and I just continue to call it that, and I ended up being in the spa for 13 years, 45 days and a couple of hours, but I swear no one was counting, jennifer.
Veronica :
I still can't believe this. No, there was no Google.
Jennifer :
There was no iPhones. There was none of that. When I went to prison, we were just getting the flip phones. That was like the biggest thing when I was getting when I got locked up.
Veronica :
Yes, oh man, and so the last eight years you've been now in Asheville. I know you're working for the county, so how was that dynamic? From being behind you know prison doors where you would think probably some of the people you're working with at the county or people that were on the other side of that door, how did that work? I mean definitely want to understand, you know experiences that you had when you were at the spa, but what led you because that's what I really want to focus on is this reentry, because the position that you have at Buncombe County as the administrative coordinator is very prestigious, is a very sought after position. How did this all come about?
Jennifer :
So I actually, the moment I got out of the spa, I automatically got enrolled into school. Like I got out on a Monday and that Tuesday I was enrolled in AB Tech. I just felt that an education was the best part of becoming entering, re-entering, the community. I wasn't just going to be able to do it on my looks, so I needed to do something. So I decided to go to school and I worked in restaurants because those allowed me with the schedule in school. Yep, I ended up. Mr Phillip Cooper helped me get a position with RHA.
Veronica :
Phillip Cooper change agent. Change agent.
Jennifer :
We love Phillip Cooper, we do we love Phil Cooper.
Jennifer :
We do. So we ended up. I ended up getting a position with RHA and at the Justice Service Center, jrc, on the 15th floor of the courthouse, just as an admin. You know everyday, normal stuff.
Jennifer :
I kept taking classes, I kept improving myself, just because I felt that just being an admin was not going to cut it, especially when you have so many individuals coming into reentry. So I did peer support classes, I did coaching classes and all that good stuff, just because I felt that, you know, education wasn't just it. I also needed to be on a more personal level when it comes to individuals in the corporate and outside of the corporate office. And after that, the justice services became part of the county. It was no longer through RHA and I ended up applying for a position as an admin for the JRC, thinking I was just applying for my same position, which it was not. It was actually the admin for the entire department and I ended up getting a crash course on how to handle grants, how to do budgets, how to do all of this stuff, and I fell in love.
Veronica :
Yes, you're speaking my language.
Jennifer :
I did not know that budget could be so much fun, and it was to me. I love doing those invoices, entering grants, figuring out what our initial balance is, our final balance. That was the most fun I ever had and I learned grants and the people in the county and the finance department were super great as to teaching me how to do things. So I learned as I went and the county position the admin for the county came available but because of fear I did not think that I could apply for that position because I was like they would never hire someone like me. It's my record I had a very bad mishap with Mayhek and that has kind of stung with me and stayed with me because they offered me the job, gave me the job and 24 hours before I started the job they recanted the position.
Veronica :
Based on your background, which you already told them, which they already knew.
Jennifer :
They said I was considered a liability and that has kind of stayed with me. So I felt honored that I had the position that I had with the admin. But I was like I want to apply for this. But I was like no, I'm not. And somebody came to me and they're like why are you not applying for this position? And I was like because of my fear. And I explained to them why I didn't want to apply and I was like that should not stop you.
Jennifer :
The county is a open book and if they don't want to hire you, they're not going to hire you. Because of that, they're not going to hire you because you are not capable of doing the job Right. I went through the interview process and I will not lie, I cried when I got the position because I was not expecting to get the position. I was just like, okay, I'll just do it whatever. And I got the position and I've been with the county now in total for three and a half years, but with the county manager's office for two and a half years and I love every minute of it. Between budget, between the NDO, which is the non-discrimination ordinance that the county holds, it's never a boring day here.
Veronica :
I can imagine.
Jennifer :
And my bosses are super supportive and they're amazing. So I think having that kind of helps the job be a little bit easier as well.
Veronica :
Absolutely. I was going to say what exactly specifically do you do as the administrative coordinator?
Jennifer :
So I have three. I have two ACMs, which is assistant county managers and the county managers, so I kind of handle their calendars and every contract that comes through with them. I also have the intergovernmental director. I handle all of his contracts and so on as well. I'm also in charge of handling all contracts that come throughout the entire county for all of my bosses to sign, because each one of them has contracts that they have to handle. And I also handle the budget for our department and the DEI department.
Veronica :
So I make sure that- I need to be your manager. By the way, we want to make sure that Jennifer is being compensated appropriately for all of these roles and responsibilities.
Jennifer :
And I love it because it's never a boring day. I always have something going on, something always happening. So I make sure that we are never over budget, that we have enough to last us for the entire year, and I also create our budget for the next fiscal year.
Veronica :
You know one thing we always do on the show, Jennifer we just talk about different tips and jewels you could provide to the listeners. And with you being at the spa for over a decade, you know, and everything that you went through, we know how hard re-entering into the workforce is. So, for those that are listening, that are just maybe re-entering or they have a family member, what did you wish that you knew eight years ago? Or what advice would you give folks? Because, of course, you are speaking very well, you're speaking very highly of the county, all these things but we know that you've had struggles and we know that people said gave you a lot of no's before they gave you a yes. So what would you say to those that are reentering to keep them encouraged?
Jennifer :
I think one of the biggest thing is don't give up. I know it's really hard and it's really easy just to say that, but it doesn't matter how many humps you go through, you have to not give yourself that chance to be like whatever I'm done, I'm going to do what I'm used to doing. You have to keep moving forward. For every no, I just felt like it was another door that was going to open. I could not allow myself to dwell in it. So, yes, I gave myself 24 hours, I cried it out, I did what I had to do and then the next day I woke up and I was like what do I need to do now?
Jennifer :
What steps do I need to take to ensure that this doesn't happen again? And I think, regarding the spa, I think a lot of individuals don't understand. Most of us come out with only $45.
Veronica :
No.
Jennifer :
Yes, that's all the DOC provides you, which I don't know what their new name is, but I'm just going to keep calling them DOC, right, department of Correction. So it doesn't matter the amount of time that you do, you come out with only $45. That is all they give you if you do not get a job, because they do have programs where you can do work while you're still in prison and you can come out with those funds. But even then, not everybody is able to make it because the slots are very small. There's not that many positions and places they will hire you. So if you don't get that advantage, you come out with $45.
Veronica :
And we know, jennifer, in today's economy, inflation. You know you're an accounting person $45. And you know, being a part of the building bridges panel, that's when I realized I was like man.
Veronica :
The cards are really stacked against people reentering when it comes to trying to find a place. A lot of times people want to charge you guys double, triple on a deposit because, like you said, you're a quote, unquote, a liability, or they'll take your deposit knowing that they won't even let you move into the place, or you'll apply for a job think you have it about to go into work. They're like, oh yeah, we won't be able to do this again and blah, blah, blah. So it is very easy to want to kind of go back to some of maybe the habits or some of the things that you did prior to reentering into society. So if you don't have family and a strong support system, it has to be difficult. Are there any resources for those that are listening in the Buncombe County area that they can use if they're reentering currently or have family members reentering into the workforce?
Jennifer :
So I was very fortunate enough to be part of the Vera Pathway program, which right now they don't offer that in prison but they still so. Buncombe County alone has so much resource for reentering individuals. There is the Justice Service Center where Brent Bailey works.
Veronica :
Shout out to Brent Bailey. We love Brent Bailey.
Jennifer :
We do. He works for the re-entry program at the JRC and he's able to provide you with a lot of housing funds, with re-entering opportunities, job listings for formerly incarcerated individuals, and they also provide assistance as needed for certain other items. There's also so many other programs, such as Sunrise now, operation Gateway If you look, you can find it. I think one of the main things that we were talking when we were at the building bridges is we need to start from the inside, and I think a lot of these programs are missing the chart by not going inside. We don't know about what's available until we're out.
Jennifer :
If we know about it while we're inside, it creates an opportunity to reach out to individuals and be like hey, I get out on such and such date, what can I do? Or how can you assist me, or who do I need to reach out to? Because those case managers in the prison system are overwhelmed. They're dealing with over 60 individuals, most of them coming out, most of them with real issues, mental health issues, issues and so on. Let's not talk about the attitudes. It just becomes like overwhelming for them and you just become another number, you know. So, I think, being able to reach out to individuals while they are still incarcerated really helps the motivation walking out, because if you're willing to talk to me and help me while I'm inside, that lets me know that when I come out those doors will be just a little bit open for me.
Veronica :
Absolutely, and on this station it's all about entrepreneurship, community service. So those that are listening that have a business. Yeah, it might sound a little scary at first, like ooh, but I want to hire somebody that might have a background. A lot of us, look, jennifer, I had a background before, but I want to hire somebody that might have a background. A lot of us, look, jennifer, I had a background before but I was able to get expunged, you know, like so we've all got a past. You know we've all made mistakes and and to just say, oh, you just had this one thing. Now we're not going to hire you. It's like that's just one piece of my whole life. So I definitely want to really push people that say, oh, you know, I support this, I support that. Well, you know, practice what you preach and if there's any way possible that you can support people, and because a lot of times, like from listening to Building Bridges, nobody wants a handout, they just want to. You know, everybody just wants to work and be given a chance like any other law abiding citizen.
Veronica :
And another thing that you touched on, jennifer, that I think is so important is mental health. You know the timeframe that you were saying with flip phones and everything when you were first going to the spa, that was taboo, especially in the black and brown community. If we're talking about therapy, we like what you crazy Like what you mean. Therapy, like mental health, like all. That was just so taboo. So how was your experience during this evolution of mental health and all these things in these last few years? Is that something that is also provided for folks that are reentering, or that's something that you have to seek on your own?
Jennifer :
It's definitely something that you have to seek on your own. Most probation officers do kind of brush into the mental health part, but most of them only have these blinders that everybody needs. What would be the word that I'm using?
Veronica :
Like substance abuse.
Jennifer :
Yes, that's the right one. They're focused on that. They feel that everybody that comes out has a substance abuse and not all of us do and I think mental health is a huge part of most substance abuse in the United States. But I do believe that we do need to be more open about that Because, as you said, back in the days, we did not believe in that, my mother was ready to take me to the priest. Because you don't have depression, you just need God.
Jennifer :
And now, as an adult, I try to encourage my children, my mother, my brother, everyone in my life, to seek mental health, talk to someone. You don't have to be on medication but having that outlet. And I think I learned from that while I was in the spa, because in the spa I was able to connect with amazing therapists.
Veronica :
And yes.
Jennifer :
I was with one for three years Longest relationship I could have. I felt so bad because I had to leave her, because she was the best thing that happened to me, because she opened up my eyes to seeing I wasn't crazy. I'm not the only person that went through that, and she allowed me to not only focus on medicating the issue, but I'm founding ways to journal it out, talk it out. You know, she was the one that taught me 24 hours. Give yourself 24 hours. Do not dwell on it. Move forward. Journaling, crochet it, do whatever it is that you need to do, but sitting on it, it's what makes it hatch and become something more than it is. Absolutely, I am all about hey, it sounds like you're having a bad day. I might not be able to help you. Have you thought about seeking help?
Veronica :
Yes.
Jennifer :
And now even my mother. Have you seen your therapist this week? Are we good? It has opened the eyes to a lot of individuals because again, a lot of people back then did not believe in it. You know, postpartum depression is now a thing. Back then that was not a thing.
Veronica :
Oh, it was like get it together. You got six weeks to get back to work and figure out all the things that's happening in your body and around you and this new human being that won't stop crying. No, I totally get it and I'm very sensitive when it comes to that, because I lost my sister to suicide. Same thing mental health, and it took that time for me and my family to say okay, we need to go to therapy because, yeah, everything on paper, everybody went to college and everything was great and blah, blah, blah.
Veronica :
But there was always stuff right underneath the surface that wasn't being dealt with because we just kept sweeping it under the rug, sweeping it under the rug and to your point. Sometimes you don't even want to say it out loud because you're like am I crazy? Is this something that I should even be feeling? Or nobody talks about it. So I'm so glad that you had brought that up when we were at Building Bridges panel and I definitely wanted to bring that up today because, again, you are living, you are thriving, but it takes a village and it takes you working on yourself, it takes you admitting okay, this is something I have to work on and I know I'm gonna have these challenges. I think sometimes people feel like, well, this is just unfair and they just give up. Hey, we are double minorities, we're women, we're of color, we spicy, we from up north, all of those things. We could use it as an advantage or we can use it as a crutch, and I love that you don't make any excuses. You know you're doing your thing. And, before we leave, I'm just so excited about your desire to continue your education, specifically in accounting, and those that listen to my show know I'm always talking about.
Veronica :
Less than 5% of all CPAs are of color and we need more accountants. Even if you don't go all the way up to be a CPA, I would love to you know I've shared with Jennifer to mentor you, to help you in any way that I can. If you're ready to take look, whenever you're ready to take some clients, I'll bring you on as a bookie. All of those things because it's important. And once you have that talent, it's to the moon, because now that's the language of business is accounting. So once you can unlock that, there's so many things that you can do as a consultant start your own business, mentoring, so many things. So I'm so excited for you, jennifer, and I'm so grateful to have met you and all the great things that you're doing, and we have lunch coming up in a few days. I'm looking forward to that.
Veronica :
And is there just anything else, Jennifer, that you want to say before we wrap up? We're already to the end of the show. This is Jennifer's first podcast. You speak very well, darling.
Jennifer :
You definitely have a radio voice you have to come back on, but anything else that you would want to say just in regards to your journey, I think at the end of the day, when we look at where we're coming from, where the start line began, it doesn't matter where the end point of it is. Remember the struggle going through it and don't allow that to dictate what the finish line is gonna look like. I don't allow my past to dictate who I am today or what I'm going to do tomorrow. So I think, staying strong, believing in yourself and not giving up yes, give yourself some time, but don't dwell on it and move forward. And you know what? I'm 44 years old and I just found out that I like accounting, so you never know what tomorrow you learn and want to do.
Veronica :
Yes. Well, jennifer, I want to be like you when I grow up. I'm going to be 42 this year, so I'm right there with you, friend. But thank you so much, so much more I want to talk to you about. We definitely have to have you on again in the future, but I want to thank you, jennifer. I want to thank the V Team for listening to the Veronica Edwards Show on Wednesday across all platforms, on bizradious, and, if you missed the live airing of this show or any
