Meet Justin Keel!

Justin serves as a Case Manager and Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) at Freedom Through Education, where he is dedicated to helping justice-involved individuals navigate the challenges of reentry and build stable, purpose-filled lives. As a Registered Substance Use Disorder Counselor through CCAPP, he combines his professional training with practical guidance to support participants in their recovery journey, helping them access resources, overcome barriers, and achieve long-term success. Prior to joining Freedom Through Education, Justin spent two years as a certified Youth Offender Mentor with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, encouraging young individuals to make positive life changes and prepare for a brighter future.

Justin's passion for this work is rooted in his own remarkable journey of redemption. After serving more than 23 years of a 32-years-to-life sentence, he was found suitable for parole at his initial Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) hearing and began his transition home through Freedom Through Education. From the moment he arrived, he was met with genuine compassion, unwavering support, and a community that believed in his potential. That experience transformed his life and inspired him to dedicate his future to serving others. Today, Justin considers it a privilege to walk alongside participants as they begin their own journeys home, offering the same encouragement, understanding, and hope that was so freely given to him. He believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to rebuild their lives and is passionate about paying forward the grace that changed his own.

Life Motto: "Here's to the crazy ones… Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." — Steve Jobs