THRU THE VENT: Latoya Ross
“In the penitentiary, much time is spent “locked down” due to lack of staff, solitary confinement, shakedowns, and a host of other factors. Those in lockdown units – confined to their cells all day – often use the ventilation system to communicate. Speaking about everything from family secrets, personal history, to one’s future, through a vent is where we shared what was on our hearts and minds. This is no different. I present to you… THRU THE VENT.”
A monthly story series featuring justice-impacted folks — musicians and non-musicians alike — telling their stories about real life events they’re going through. Curated by BL Shirelle.
Hi guys I'm Latoya. BL Shirelle’s wife. I'm here to give you a glimpse into my story. Forgive my abrupt tone. My personality is straight to the point and I don't have many characters. I am a 7-time non-violent felon. I have 5 drug convictions and 2 firearm convictions. I started my prison sentence at 21 years old. My first time ever being remanded was with a 5-10 year sentence. I landed myself in Muncy (Pennsylvania's state prison for women). Shortly thereafter I was transferred to Cambridge Springs. Two life changing things happened to me while housed there: I found a career and a wife.
At 21 with a five-year sentence I had all plans on sleeping until my release date. Little did I know that's not how the DOC operates. About three months in at being at CBS, I was summoned into a small office. In that office was the education director and my guidance counselor. I was told I had two options being that I had more than two years to serve. Those two options were cosmetology and opticianry. I had zero interest in either one. No choice wasn't an option. If I didn't want to work I wouldn't be paroled.
I attended optical class and ended up being one of the top two in my class, which landed me a spot in the optical lab. We made glasses for all the state inmates in the PA DOC. I eventually took my ABO to become a licensed optician in 2008. I remember long study nights in the dayroom where BL drilled me until I couldn't think! I was released in 2010. I became employed at a corporate company (which I will NOT be promoting in my testimony lol) and was promoted to optical manager in six months.
Thirteen months later I was back incarcerated. After doing another three-year sentence I was released; however, finding employment was ten times harder. I was turned down by nine optical companies. I was in a state of despair and depression. I interviewed with a private optical owner who never hired someone with optical experience let alone a criminal background. He didn't seem to be interested. About three weeks later he called me and asked me if I was available to train at his office. Of course I was elated! The day I started training he asked me if he googled me what would he find. I was completely honest with him about my sentence and my current state of supervision. His response was "my integrity is in question." He then let me know I would work for four days with no pay to "see if he liked me." I had no choice but to accept the offer.
I began working at Trend Eye Care in December 2015. In 2016 I began managing their sole private optical facility equipped with two doctors and five staff. It wasn't easy building with this company. I was the only Black person who worked there, and it was safe to say the staff was very intimidated of my ability. I wouldn't call them racist, but I would definitely call them prejudiced at that time. Like Die Jim Crow, i had to dismantle stereotypes around race and prison in my workplace which was draining to say the least.
Fast forward five years and I’m proud to say that in a couple weeks we will be opening our fourth location. Being the Optical Manager of all four, I have been able to pay it forward by hiring Black women, returning citizens and other people of color. I oversee seven doctors and twenty additional staff members. I have had the opportunity to strategically open up some locations in poverty stricken areas so the Black elders and disabled can have full access to our services. I'm doing my very small part to change the world. Now that's fulfilling...
