Faces of Persevere: Meet Cheryl Smiles

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Faces of Persevere: Meet Cheryl Smiles

Our greatest asset is our staff. Our team cares deeply about their work, our participants and is a wealth of knowledge. Plus they are pretty amazing humans as well. Meet the faces of Persevere.

Name: Cheryl Smiles

Position and Location
Families First Case Manager, TN

How long have you worked for Persevere?
Since February 2023

Where are you originally from?
Missouri

What do you love most about your job?
I love that I can help people overcome barriers that they are facing and watch families grow from our program.

Why Persevere?
I always wanted to help people and know that everyone deserves a few chances because the past don’t define anyone.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Case Manager working for division of family services.

Looking back on your life, who or what makes you instantly light up?

My kids and watching them grow into the young adults that they are. Now my grandbabies growing up.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Live life to the fullest and have no regrets. Just make sure you learn from your mistakes.

Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day is relaxing with my family and lots of laughs. Work wise seeing someone succeed or make progress towards their goals.

What are you most proud of about yourself?
I grow and learn each day and I’m getting more confidant with what I’m doing.

Favorite Movie or TV show?
Ghost for a movie and Heartland TV show

What is something about you that would surprise us?

I love to rough it why camping and enjoying the outdoors.

Give Hope and Skills Today

For as little as $25 a month you can support Persevere's educational programs giving justice-impacted individuals tangible skills in coding.

Join Us

Breaking Cycles. Building Leaders. Celebrating Our Remarkable Woman of the Year. 💛

April 3, 2025

At Persevere, we believe that second chances don’t just change lives—they shape leaders who go on to uplift others. And today, we are thrilled to celebrate one of those leaders: Stacey Books, our incredible Director of Programs, who was just named Nexstar’s 2025 Remarkable Woman of the Year!

A Program That Transforms Youth, Strengthens Families, and Builds Confidence

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With Persevere Tennessee, we want to celebrate the incredible transformation of youth, their parents, and the greater families within their communities. See what two staff members involved in our Families First program have to say among the graduation of the Families First Youth Class of 2024.

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January 31, 2025

On December 6, 2024, at Lowell Correctional in Florida, fifteen women graduated from a rigorous full-stack web development program. Dubbed “Coding Courage: Florida’s Path to Transformation at Lowell Correctional,” their achievement marks a powerful journey from confinement to empowerment.

Persevere In the News: New program called ‘Persevere’ gives Mass. inmates critical computer coding skills

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GARDNER, Mass. — Inside the barbed wire walls of NCCI Gardner, a small group of inmates is taking advantage of a new initiative that could change their lives

It’s called “Persevere,” and it’s teaching web-building skills to inmates like Alejandro Queiroz-Santana.

Power to Change: Red Rock AZ Graduation

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The power to change starts right now. It’s not waiting for you on the outside. Pain and adversity don’t automatically produce growth—it’s how we respond during those hard times that defines us. This certificate isn’t just a piece of paper—it’s proof that we chose potential over limitations.” – Adrian Ruiz, Red Rock Graduate

Persevere in the News: Inagural Graduation at Wakaulla Correctional in Florida

December 16, 2024

WCI in Florida hosted a ceremony for the first graduating class of the Persevere Program at the facility, handing inmates a diploma and a second chance at a better life.