Mr. Perkins has been a cherished part of the Amicus community for nearly twelve years. He connected with Amicus after moving to Minnesota from Kansas City, and his monthly visits are a bright spot in the office, not just for himself, but for Amicus staff and volunteers as well.
Adjusting to life after incarceration is difficult, and was even more so for Mr. Perkins, since he is not originally from Minnesota. "I learned to adapt to the system here because it's new in every state," he shares. Mr. Perkins originally started coming to Amicus for spiritual care services, and he soon realized the depth of assistance and community connection he could find here.
Over the years, Mr. Perkins has not only accessed tangible resources like bus passes through Amicus, but has also nurtured valuable soft skills, such as guidance on the interviewing process.
"They’ve helped with intermittent things, the small things. That's what counts, and that's what elevates you to the next level."
Mr. Perkins says that what sets Amicus apart from other organizations is the personal touch. "All the resources here in Minnesota are a dream, but the reason I came here is because it’s one on one… it's more comforting to know there are people there."
For Mr. Perkins and many others the relationships built at Amicus extend beyond the transactional nature of social services, providing a sense of belonging, understanding and hope.
"Here I am, hoping and searching for all the good things in life because they’re out there. It is easy to get caught up in all the other [negative] aspects of the world, but if you concentrate and put your focus on the natural and good things in life, good things will come to you."