Article: Ready to mark new beginning: thirty graduates of the Ready, Willing and Able program have turned their lives around.

Byline: Joseph A. Slobodzian

Apr. 23--Two years ago, Ahmed Fletcher recalled, he was one of those men passersby avoided: dirty, smelly, befuddled by booze or drugs, and looking for handouts. Friday night, beaming in a neatly tailored gray suit, he said he was "in a world I never imagined." He was center stage at the New Freedom Theater in Center City, and he was valedictorian for the the Class of 2006 of the Philadelphia homeless program Ready, Willing and Able. "Mama, your son is back," Fletcher, 47, called out to the house, after expressing his regret that she had died in 2003 never knowing of his rebirth after 20 years on the street. Fletcher was one ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!