Failing Forward + Future Fire Academy

This episode is an interview with Anthony Pedro Founder and Leader of Future Fire Academy and Benjamin Crew Executive Director of Failing Forward Youth Outreach. Two important non-profits that help both at-risk youth and rehabilitate formerly incarcerated individuals through mentorship and education.



Ben Crew is a husband, father, firefighter, Executive Director of Failing Forward Youth Outreach Foundation, Ironman triathlete, Ultra-distance runner, a lifelong student, a formerly convicted felon, and a proud board member of Future Fire Academy.



As a teen Ben struggled to find his place in the world.  He lost a brother to a heroin overdose and a sister to suicide.  In 2005, he was fortunate to find sobriety and people that were willing to love him until he was able to love himself. 



Failing Forward Youth Outreach (FFYO) is a program dedicated to helping at-risk youth through motivational speaking and group discussion with firefighters and other community leaders. FFYO is a group of volunteers who are creating an invaluable impact on society by connecting Firefighters and community leaders to at-risk youth. Many FFYO volunteers have overcome adversity and recognize that adversity builds character.  We focus on the solution. This is accomplished through motivational speaking, group discussion, and mentorship. Through sharing their experience, FFYO offers hope.  As a result of painstaking honesty, FFYO volunteers become “credible messengers” bringing hope and discussing the unapparelled value of responsibility, setting goals, and “failing forward”.



Follow FFYO

Insta:  https://www.instagram.com/failing_forward_youth_outreach/

Web:  https://failingforwardyo.wixsite.com/ffyo

 

Anthony Pedro, is a full time, permanent, professional Firefighter who was formerly incarcerated. During Anthony’s time in prison he was able to qualify for the California Correctional Center Fire Department where he spent three years at an all hazards station that responded off prison grounds.

Upon Anthony’s return home in 2018 he immediately applied to his local fire department.  Seeing the passion Anthony had to serve his community, he was offered a second chance as an Intern Firefighter Reserve.

Anthony’s story is not average. In fact, most firefighters returning home find it difficult to get back into the fire service for one reason or another. After seeing the need for job placement assistance in the fire service for those returning home after serving at fire camps and fire houses while incarcerated, Anthony knew he had to pay it forward. He had made it!

Follow Future Fire Academy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurefireacademy/

website: https://futurefireacademy.org/