Finding Purpose Through Service

Incarcerated individuals, like Royal Ramey, often play a critical role in combating California's wildfires, which provides them a sense of purpose and control over their lives. Serving as wildland firefighters offers a unique opportunity to reclaim agency in an environment where their choices are otherwise severely restricted. It instills a sense of self-worth and capability that contrasts sharply with how they are often perceived by society. Ramey emphasizes how this experience allowed him to feel like a hero, challenging the stigma that labels him as a zero due to his past.