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Jesse Graham
Program Staff
Jesse Graham, the youngest of three siblings, was born in Provo, Utah, in 1983. Raised by hardworking parents, he grew up knowing he was loved in a home where his needs were always met.
At just eight years old, he began sneaking his mother’s cigarettes and his father’s beers. Drawn to a life of secrecy and rebellion—and eager to gain acceptance—he soon started stealing liquor for the older kids in the neighborhood, setting the stage for a troubled path ahead.
Jesse’s choices led him to an alternative high school, where he mastered two things: playing basketball and fighting. Armed with this street education, he set out in search of work and found it—on the streets.
With over 50 arrests and 15 years behind bars—eight of those in prison—Jesse finally found the inspiration to turn his life around. Not only did he write to The Other Side Academy, get accepted, and graduate, but he also stayed on as staff, determined to give others the same opportunity that had been freely given to him.