{"id":5610,"date":"2023-10-05T22:36:33","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T22:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/?page_id=5610"},"modified":"2023-11-16T22:49:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T22:49:27","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>The Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-13e5f06e\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-b311a449\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-70be5b6b\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-70be5b6b\">\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-verse has-text-align-center has-base-3-color has-main-01-background-color has-text-color has-background\">At Winning Ways Inc., we're not just another nonprofit. We are a vessel for transformative change. Our mission is unambiguous: Winning Ways is an organization which uses a lived experience, evidence, and family-based curriculum to foster the success of the formerly incarcerated or those seeking recovery in underserved communities. We help empower individuals to live meaningful lives and overcome histories of trauma.<\/pre>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-5e7fc099\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-5e7fc099\" src=\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Three-Founders-photo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo.png 1280w, https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase\">The Leaders Guiding the Way<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Behind this impactful mission are Kevin Paulin, Benjamin Backes, and Andrew Redenti\u2014three individuals united by their incredible journeys of overcoming life-threatening obstacles. Each of them brings a unique perspective and wisdom to this endeavor, allowing us to connect deeply with the communities we serve. Their alliance is not mere chance; it\u2019s a synergistic meeting of minds and souls to create something extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-678cc641 gb-headline-text\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase\">A Dream Deferred: Kevin&#8217;s Providential Moment<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Kevin Paulin\u2019s epiphany about founding Winning Ways Inc. began in a setting most would deem hopeless: his prison cell. There, weighed down by guilt and despair, he found a lifeline in the form of a book about starting a nonprofit. Here is where Kevin envisioned an organization that empower and provide hope to people could help those in circumstances similar to his. Although this felt like divine intervention, the dream lay dormant, waiting for the right moment and the perfect partners to become a reality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kevin Testimonial\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wd1cdI4J4zA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase\">The Lunch Meeting that Changed Everything<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">The turning point came during a casual lunch with Benjamin Backes, a colleague at a nonprofit in New Haven, CT. Both shared candidly about their pasts\u2014Kevin\u2019s time in prison and Benjamin\u2019s struggle with substance abuse\u2014and acknowledged the pivotal role of support systems in their respective recoveries. This conversation was the spark that breathed life into their shared vision: to create a lifeline for others, much like the support networks that had been crucial for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ben Testimonial\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_Ohaf4wCtoU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase\">Andrew Redenti: The Missing Link<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Enter Andrew Redenti, another trailblazer in community upliftment, who, like Kevin and Benjamin, overcame life-threatening obstacles. Andrew\u2019s story was the missing piece in the puzzle, adding depth and dimension to the collective vision. United by their own stories of redemption, the trio knew it was time. They combined their insights, experiences, and determination to officially launch Winning Ways Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Andrew Testimonial\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MUkYaadt53M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase\">The Impact We&#8217;ve Made and Continue to Make<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Today, Winning Ways Inc. stands as a lighthouse in turbulent waters, guiding those lost at sea towards safer shores. Through mentorship, skills enhancement, and community initiatives, we fulfill our commitment to serve as the missing support system for countless individuals on their path to recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-verse has-text-align-center has-main-01-color has-second-01-background-color has-text-color has-background\">In sum, our story highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the exponential power of community. We believe that by helping others, we don\u2019t just transform individual lives; we set in motion a ripple effect of positive change that enriches us all.<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Mission The Leaders Guiding the Way Behind this impactful mission are Kevin Paulin, Benjamin Backes, and Andrew Redenti\u2014three individuals united by their incredible journeys of overcoming life-threatening obstacles. Each of them brings a unique perspective and wisdom to this &#8230; <a title=\"Our Story\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/\" aria-label=\"More on Our Story\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Our Story - Winning Ways<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our Story - Winning Ways\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Mission The Leaders Guiding the Way Behind this impactful mission are Kevin Paulin, Benjamin Backes, and Andrew Redenti\u2014three individuals united by their incredible journeys of overcoming life-threatening obstacles. Each of them brings a unique perspective and wisdom to this ... Read More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Winning Ways\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-11-16T22:49:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/\",\"name\":\"Our Story - Winning Ways\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-05T22:36:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-11-16T22:49:27+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Our Story\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/\",\"name\":\"Winning Ways\",\"description\":\"It\u2019s more than just rehabilitation \u2014 It\u2019s building community.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Winning Ways\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/cropped-g956-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/cropped-g956-1.png\",\"width\":90,\"height\":84,\"caption\":\"Winning Ways\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Our Story - Winning Ways","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Our Story - Winning Ways","og_description":"The Mission The Leaders Guiding the Way Behind this impactful mission are Kevin Paulin, Benjamin Backes, and Andrew Redenti\u2014three individuals united by their incredible journeys of overcoming life-threatening obstacles. Each of them brings a unique perspective and wisdom to this ... Read More","og_url":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/","og_site_name":"Winning Ways","article_modified_time":"2023-11-16T22:49:27+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Three-Founders-photo.png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/","url":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/","name":"Our Story - Winning Ways","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-10-05T22:36:33+00:00","dateModified":"2023-11-16T22:49:27+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/our-story\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Our Story"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/","name":"Winning Ways","description":"It\u2019s more than just rehabilitation \u2014 It\u2019s building community.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#organization","name":"Winning Ways","url":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/cropped-g956-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/cropped-g956-1.png","width":90,"height":84,"caption":"Winning Ways"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5610"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5610"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5849,"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5610\/revisions\/5849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/winningwaysct.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}