When Jacob Brown first came to Project Thrive, he was looking for something many of us take for granted—a chance to start over.
“I needed a job. I needed skills,” Jacob shared. “But more than that, I needed to get myself in the right headspace again.”
There was a time when Jacob’s life looked very different. He had built a successful career as a car salesman, was earning good money, and felt like everything was coming together. But like many individuals facing personal struggles, he found himself on a difficult path with substance use—one that ultimately led to losing his stability, his career, and even time with his family.
After entering and completing a drug court program, Jacob knew he wanted something better—but he struggled to push himself forward.
“I just couldn’t find that mental space to take the next step,” he said.
That’s when he found Project Thrive.
From the very beginning, Jacob says the program felt different.
“It was a positive atmosphere. A place where you could reset,” he explained. “This class helped me realize—we already have it in each of us. Sometimes we just need someone to help us see it again.”
Through the program, Jacob discovered something powerful: he wasn’t alone. Surrounded by others who had faced similar challenges, he found connection, understanding, and encouragement.
“You can communicate with people who have walked the same path,” he said. “You realize there’s more to life than staying stuck where you are.”
A turning point came during a deeply personal moment—an ongoing custody battle involving his daughter.
“That was my epiphany,” Jacob shared. “I knew I had to do better—for her and for myself.”
He also found inspiration in the stories of others in the class, including those who had overcome their own setbacks.
“Hearing someone like Jamie talk about being stuck and then pushing forward—it made me think, ‘If they can do it, so can I.’”
Project Thrive helped Jacob rebuild more than just job skills—it helped him rebuild confidence, purpose, and belief in himself.
Not long after completing the program, Jacob began applying for jobs. What started as a wide search quickly led him to something that felt like the right fit: a position at Planet Fitness, combining his love for fitness with a desire for stability.
“I just needed something steady. A place to show up, do my work, and feel good about it,” he said.
That sense of purpose paid off quickly. Within just 40 days, Jacob was promoted to Assistant Manager.
“It felt amazing,” he said. “To go somewhere every day, do my tasks, and feel that sense of accomplishment again—it meant everything.”
Today, Jacob’s life looks very different than it did when he first walked through the doors of Project Thrive.
He has regained partial custody of his daughter and now spends time with her every other weekend—time he deeply cherishes.
“I can take her out, create memories with her,” he said. “We even went to an indoor theme park together.”
Beyond his own success, Jacob continues to see the ripple effects of the program in his community. He’s reconnected with classmates and often runs into fellow graduates—seeing them succeed, grow, and move forward.
“You see people coming up,” he said. “And that means something.”
For Jacob, Project Thrive wasn’t just a class—it was a turning point.
“This program gives people a second chance,” he said. “There’s no judgment. They believe in you, even when you’re not sure you believe in yourself yet.”
And sometimes, that belief is exactly what it takes.