REAL LIFE

REAL LIFE We create pathways to attain and sustain a thriving life for those who desire change.

Our mission is to develop a relationship with each person we serve (as we refer to them, Lifers) that equips them to make the visible progress necessary for their personal pathway to a Thriving Life. Along the way, we engage the community and bring awareness to the needs of Lifers. Our work meets a standard of accountability we call compelling stewardship that allows us to engage Lifers with a level of service and financial effectiveness seldom seen.

We’re celebrating our very first female house as House of the Month! Led by Peer House Leader Jordan, the ladies earned...
10/24/2025

We’re celebrating our very first female house as House of the Month! Led by Peer House Leader Jordan, the ladies earned this recognition by showing up to classes on time, doing well on house inspections, and supporting each other day to day.

For their reward, they asked for a self-care glam night, and we delivered! From face, hand, and foot masks to under-eye masks, fuzzy socks, and a spread of sweet and salty snacks, it was an evening full of laughter, pampering, and connection.

We love seeing our Lifers enjoy time together, unwind, and celebrate the hard work they’re putting into their recovery journeys. Congratulations, ladies!

10/24/2025

Happy ! We are so FORE-tunate to have the most amazing sponsors who made this week’s Drive to Thrive Golf Tournament a tee-rific success.

Their generosity kept the day running smoothly, the energy high, and the mission in full swing, showing just how powerful community and compassion can be together.

Thank you to our sponsors and everyone who supported Drive to Thrive! You are helping us chip away at barriers and drive change in our community!

Ace Sponsor: Virginia Housing

Par Sponsors: Glen Forest Dental Co., New Home Media, Marco's Pizza RVA, Wanda Huggins Realtor

Hole Sponsors: ReidGoodwin, PLC, Legacy Mechanical, LLC, Holon Healthcare, JMR Painting & Improvements, Lakeside Park Club, Skip Rowland Photography, Erin Barr for Chesterfield County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Marks & Harrison, Carrie Coyner, Penterson & Booth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry A Division of CVDC, PLC, Church Hill Home Services, Julie Dime Keffer, Barone Sanitation, Josh's Discount Advice, Josh & Sarah Scarbrough, Myke & Kristen Reiser

At the Voter Registration Fish Fry at Pin Oaks, our Project SAF (Safe, Alive & Free) and Community Resilience team showe...
10/23/2025

At the Voter Registration Fish Fry at Pin Oaks, our Project SAF (Safe, Alive & Free) and Community Resilience team showed up to connect with neighbors, share resources, and remind everyone that every vote has power.

For Demetrius, one of our Project SAF Life Coaches, the event was especially meaningful as he discovered that his own voting rights had been restored, 17 years after losing them. He’s excited to vote in the upcoming election.

If you’re unsure about YOUR voting eligibility, it’s simple to check and get registered, but the deadline is TOMORROW, October 24th!

Step 1: Check Your Rights (if you have previously lost your rights)
Find out if your rights have been restored at ror.solutions.virginia.gov.

Step 2: Check Your Voter Registration Status
See if you’re already registered to vote at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/Lookup/status

Step 3: Register to Vote
If you still need to register before tomorrow's deadline, you can do it online or in person:
*Online: elections.virginia.gov/registration
*In Person: visit your local registrar’s office or a DMV

Step 4: Vote!
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th, buf early in-person voting is open now across Virginia through November 1st, so you can vote today!

Voting isn’t just a right... it’s how you make a difference in your community.

10/22/2025

The Halloween spirit is alive and well across our Project SAF communities.

Thanks to the incredible support of our partners and their costume drives, families in Richmond, Petersburg, and Hopewell are ready for a fangtastic Halloween.

This is just a sneak peek from Piper Square Apartments. Join us on October 30th for the full reveal of this boo-tiful community impact. 👻

10/21/2025

When you want to take a smoke break but you don’t smoke (or you’re trying to quit), bubbles to the rescue! 🫧

Sometimes the best way to de-stress at work is to do something that literally blows away your worries. Here’s to finding healthier habits and still having fun doing it! 💙

10/20/2025

Join us for the great duck drop!

10/19/2025

Last call for ducks! 🦆

They’ll be taking flight tomorrow, and someone will walk (or waddle) away with $1,000!

You don’t need to be on the green to win, but you DO need to grab your duck before it’s too late.

Head to https://auctria.events/DrivetoThrive2025 and snag yours now before the flock flies south for the winter!

10/17/2025

We celebrated Boss’s Day with a Nacho Average Boss party for Sarah. 🧀🎉 She is an fantastic leader, but how well does she really know the REAL LIFE team? Or at least their voices…

Staff stood behind her to say “hi,” and disguising voices was definitely allowed. Think she nailed it? Make sure to watch ‘til the very end! 👀🤣

10/17/2025

REAL LIFE has gone purple.

Purple Thursday is a national call to action to honor survivors, shine a light on domestic violence, and inspire change in our communities.

In partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, REAL LIFE developed Real Talk with REAL LIFE, a trauma-informed program grounded in evidence-based practices. The curriculum helps men explore the root causes of domestic and intimate partner violence through classes like Toxic Masculinity, Root Causes of Anger, and Prevention Planning.

Real Talk recognizes that trauma often drives violent behavior. Research shows that adverse childhood experiences greatly increase the risk of perpetration. Participants may start uncertain, but they leave with insight, accountability, and the tools to build healthier relationships.

One participant reflected, “This course opened my eyes. I finally understand what a healthy relationship looks like: empathy, respect, love, and peace. I learned that some of my behaviors were abusive, even when I didn’t see it before. I’ve gained the strength to pause, identify my emotions, and choose a different response. I now see how I was the cause of so much harm, and I’m ready to do better.”

Wearing purple today is more than a symbol. It is a commitment to survivors, to change, and to building a safer future for all.


10/16/2025

A special today for a very special couple. Thank you so much, Jose and Marta, for all you do for REAL LIFE and the community, in Isaac's memory. We appreciate you!

10/16/2025

REAL LIFE recently wrapped up our 2nd annual Beyond Gunshots conference at Great Wolf Lodge!

From powerful keynotes to real conversations about solutions, the weekend was all about learning, sharing, and working together to reduce violence in our communities.

Highlights included REAL LIFE’s own session on our Real Talk with REAL LIFE program, where peer facilitators joined us via Zoom from the program at Lawrenceville Correctional Center to share how they’re now helping others change harmful patterns, take responsibility, and begin to heal. We also heard moving and inspirational stories of resilience, research related to the field, and updates about how localities and programs are tackling violence.

“Our conference provided a great venue to come together and talk about solutions for reducing violence,” said Sarah Scarbrough, Founder and Director of REAL LIFE. “Many different perspectives were shared, all with one goal in mind: to learn, to grow, and to strengthen our work. Having pizza and fun at the water park was an added bonus, giving us the chance to get to know our colleagues even better.”

We are grateful to our partners, sponsors, organizations, and speakers who made this year’s conference such a success. We’re already looking forward to an even bigger and better Beyond Gunshots in 2026!

For this Workforce Wednesday, we are excited to highlight Lauren! Lauren, a REAL LIFE graduate and Peer House Leader, is...
10/15/2025

For this Workforce Wednesday, we are excited to highlight Lauren! Lauren, a REAL LIFE graduate and Peer House Leader, is thriving in her role as a General Manager at a fast food restaurant, where she oversees everything from the quality of food and speedy service to hiring, scheduling, and inventory.

“I love the opportunity for growth,” Lauren shares. “I’ve only been there a year, but with my management background I was able to grow quickly and show my potential to the company.”

We’re proud to celebrate Lauren and the hard work she’s putting in every day!

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P. O. Box 27372
Richmond, VA
23261

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