Shane Sims

Background

About Shane Sims

At the age of 12, I was traumatized by the experience of stumbling upon my beloved parents smoking crack cocaine. I was affected in ways that would not become apparent until my late teens. As a gifted, but troubled high school senior who had just lost his job due to an unexpected closure, I was vulnerable to the “street life”. Before I could graduate or figure out what was going on with me, I was on my way to prison with a sentence of life plus fifteen years. While in prison it became evident to the people around me (inmates and employees of the state), that I was compassionate, honest, resilient, and willing to put my life on the line to mediate disputes that could have ended up being deadly. Three powerful prison officials, in particular, acknowledged my efforts and are responsible for me walking out a free man 20 years after I was incarcerated.I now hold positions within my community ranging from Chaplain of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department to Executive Director of People Living in Recovery (PLR). Needless to say, I continue to mediate, maintain peace, and help people” get out of their own way” through life coaching, mentoring, and motivational speaking. It is hard to list all my credentials or professional titles because helping others is not just a job, but a lifestyle for me. The things I strive to do every day in my different professions are connected to my life story, often the stories of the people I serve resonate deeply with me. However, I am very proud of the positions I have been privileged to hold and the platforms I am able to use to do what I love to do. Sometimes I think about how I went from serving a life sentence to having the ability to help people stay out of prison or help people in prison maintain their dignity. I think of how I went from getting caught in the “street life” due to my finances to three years after my release owning two beautiful homes in my community. I think of how I went from traumatizing familial experiences to having a dedicated and loving wife with whom I have had the pleasure to raise two beautiful children with. I will continue to pay it all forward by teaching the skills that I have developed through my lived experiences and inspiring hope in others!