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Tasheed

A Second Chance

Meet Tasheed

With parents wrestling with addiction and frequent incarceration, Tasheed was raised in West Philadelphia by his devoted grandparents. He discovered basketball at an early age and at 16, was an undeniable “big talent.” A successful college basketball career at Saint Joseph’s University led to a professional career in an NBA development league overseas. After the birth of his first child, Tasheed left the NBA and returned to Philadelphia. Down on his luck with a family to support and finding himself strapped to pursue his business aspirations, Tasheed turned to selling marijuana to finance his needs. He was eventually arrested and faced a five-year prison sentence for first-time felony drug sales.

The Choice is Yours (TCY) gave him an opportunity to undo what he calls “the biggest mistake of my life.”

He then experienced his greatest fear: that his daughter would see him incarcerated. Tasheed was offered a second chance, enrolling in The Choice is Yours (TCY), a 13-month diversion program operated by JEVS, giving him an opportunity to undo what he calls “the biggest mistake of my life.” Tasheed graduated from the program after one year, being steadily employed throughout that time, and proved to be a model of positivity for everyone involved.

Tasheed is now a full-time personal trainer and travels across the country working with professional athletes. His record has been expunged. Tasheed is a regular guest speaker at TCY, sharing his story and inspiring others to make a difference in their communities.

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