Vonya Quarles
Starting Over, Inc.
Corona, CA USA
"The only place to go is forward."
Career Roadmap
Vonya's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Law, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
After earning my bachelor's degree, I decided I wanted to go to law school. Most law schools turned me down because of my criminal background. However, I found one school at which the dean told me that while I'll never practice law in California with my background, he'll admit me if I accepted that fact and still wanted to learn. Things fortunately changed during my four years of law school. After going through two years of moral character determination, I was granted a license to practice.
Here's the path I took:
GED
Bachelor's Degree
Business, General
University of Phoenix
Doctorate
Law
Pacific Coast University of Law
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I grew up poor, moved around a lot, and spent time in foster care while my mother struggled with alcoholism, addiction, and incarceration.
2.
I dropped out of middle school and began struggling with substance abuse myself.
3.
I first entered the juvenile justice system when I was 11 years old and spent about 15 years in the criminal justice system overall.
4.
I was paroled in 1990 and was able to get a job at an oil refinery by hiding my background.
5.
While my job at the oil refinery changed my economic trajectory, I eventually realized that I was more so checked out and hiding rather than thriving.
6.
I started going to school at night and ultimately earned my bachelor’s degree as well as a law degree.
7.
I attended a Women Organizing for Justice and Opportunity training that completely changed my mindset about the work that needed to be done and the role I could play if I applied my whole self.
8.
In 2009, I co-founded Starting Over, Inc., an organization focused on helping people overcome homelessness through transitional housing, harm reduction, and supportive services.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You can't come to our school because of your criminal background. You'll never practice law in the state of California with your background.
How I responded:
After earning my bachelor's degree, I decided I wanted to go to law school. Most law schools turned me down because of my criminal background. However, I found one school at which the dean told me that while I'll never practice law in California with my background, he'll admit me if I accepted that fact and still wanted to learn. Things fortunately changed during my four years of law school. After going through two years of moral character determination, I was granted a license to practice.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My mother was incarcerated when I was young, so I spent the early years of my life in foster care. Reading was my escape from my reality at the time.
I struggled with substance abuse through my whole early life but I've been sober for about 20 years now.
I spent about 15 years in the criminal justice system. I first entered the juvenile justice system at 11 years old. The system was waiting for me as I tried to break out of oppression and poverty. I now work to help others in similar circumstances.