After Addiction, Finding Purpose in Re-Entry Reform

Anthony Lowery’s father earned a living through his trucking company—and even more money selling drugs. After years in federal prison, he tried to protect his son from following in his footsteps.

But when Anthony eventually drifted into dealing, his father was right there to help him make connections in the illegal drug trade. And what started as a glamorous business eventually ended in addiction.

[pullquote]Justice advocate Anthony Lowery tells @StoryCorps his story of #addiction, #incarceration + collateral consequences[/pullquote]

“The drug addiction drove the criminal background,” Lowery explains. “When I was able to address the addiction, then I was able to move forward in life. And I was able to be a person who could be counted on again.”

Today, as director of policy and advocacy for the Safer Foundation, Lowery works to reform the collateral consequences of incarceration. He sat down with his wife Montrice Lowery Lackey for an interview with StoryCorps about his “fall from grace,” his redemption, and his mission to “give people real second chances.”

Listen to their story: