WEBVTT

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I was a drug dealer,
and I got incarcerated.

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When I came out,
I was like

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there's no way I'm gonna get
a second chance or get a job.

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I'm trying to achieve and running
is part of my way of getting there.

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This Great Big
Story was made possible by

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Dignity Health. 
Hello, humankindness.

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My name is Manuel Navarro,
and I am a runner with Back On My Feet.

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Back On My Feet is an organization
that helps people fight homelessness;

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and at this point in my life,

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the lowest point in my life,
that's where I'm at;

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and it's helping me
be successful

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and achieve everything
I wanna achieve the right way.

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My name is Pete Roller,
and I'm a volunteer

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and board member 
with Back On My Feet.

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Manny and I have been running
together for nine months.

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We run three mornings 
a week at 5:45 in the morning.

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Back On My Feet is a national non-profit
that works with individuals

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who are experiencing homelessness
or in some stage of recovery

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and provides a hand up
to employment and housing

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and independence through
community and fitness.

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Running is a really nice complement

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to recovery for many of our members.

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Running, in particular,
provides the physical release.

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For a lot of us, we're
replacing negativity.

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Those three mornings a
week are the three mornings

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where they know they can
come and be supported

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by the rest of the group
and really feel good

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about themselves because
whatever comes in between that

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is gonna be much harder;
and Back On My Feet provides

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the link for them to successfully
continue that recovery.

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I know it works because the changes

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in the individuals,
members, volunteers, myself

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are visible, and they're tangible.

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For our members, it allows
them to feel human again,

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and I've seen countless
members just blossom.

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When they come to the morning circle,

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they're just another runner.

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Who are we?

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Back On My Feet.

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Where we from?

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San Francisco.

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How far we gonna run?

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Forever.

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I hated running, but now I love running.

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I mean, just the community;

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they make you feel very welcome.

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They're really there to help you,

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to embrace you and to support the fact that
you're trying to be successful in life

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and trying to do something right.

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And the connection that me
and Pete have is amazing.

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I never had real friends before.

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In the drug business
you don't trust anybody,

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and here I am trusting.

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He's always telling me
how I could do better

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and pushing me to do
better and that's good

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because he's there to support me,

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and I think we all
deserve a second chance,

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and I'm taking it.