She was 14 when she was incarcerated. This program saved her life

"Ending up in jail could have made my life tough, but joining the Advot program changed everything," says Merced Velez. "Advot helped me see that I could do great things."

Velez was only 14 years old when she was incarcerated. Little did she know that the following year she would end up celebrating her 15th birthday in a probation lockup facility. 

While doing her time, Velez struggled to advocate for herself. However, after participating in Advot's Ripple program, she was able to find her voice and make meaningful connections with mentors and role models that not only guided her through her lockup time but also inspired her to continue her education. 

The Advot Ripple program uses its Ripple method to teach thousands of young individuals vital communication and relationship-building skills while inspiring them to overcome the barriers in their lives and write the next chapter of their story.

With the support Velez received from the program, she earned an early release for good behavior. She fully embraced the opportunities and resources offered by Advot, immersing herself in theatrical plays and other artistic outlets. 

Through these experiences, she built meaningful connections and a strong support system to help her stay on the right path to success. Advot became her anchor, equipping her with the life skills, tools and confidence to pursue her dreams.

Today, Velez works in a law firm in Los Angeles and graduated from Cal State Pomona this May. Her time with Advot instilled the belief that her voice matters. Like many other Advot alums, who hold the power to reshape their destiny with the right guidance of mentors.

“The program showed me how to keep learning and growing so that I could have a prosperous future.” Velez said. “Thanks to Advot, I started believing in myself and worked hard to get accepted into a university. It helped me turn my life around.”

“I always tell our students, ‘Never believe you are less—because you are always, always more,” said Naomi Ackerman, founder and executive director of Advot. “Merced is living proof of that truth. You can change. You can grow. No matter where you come from. You can step into spaces you once thought were beyond your reach—and belong there fully.” 

To hear Merced’s story firsthand, tune in to the latest episode of the Advot podcast.