While incarcerated, Ricky used his time and energy to make a better way not only for himself but those around him as well. Having co-founded the Illinois Department of Corrections’ very first Restorative Justice Program, Two Roads, Ricky was Editor-In- Chief of an electronic magazine based around stories and service which reached over 43,000 incarcerated individuals and correctional staff throughout Illinois as well the public.While inside, Ricky co-hosted a podcast along with Psychologist Jim Estes entitled Inside Outside. This podcast explored and captured the stories of resilience of individuals overcoming overwhelming obstacles that were discovered through their incarceration. Ricky also helped to organize and design SB 2054/HB 2620 – The Restorative Sentencing Act which was sponsored by senate majority leader Kim Lightford and then House Majority Leader Christopher Welch as well as co-founded the advocate group Why Reform Illinois. In addition to being a content creator for the IDOC’s website and Facebook page, Ricky would later go on to co-create the GOT JOBS AMERICA Initiative along with Mr. Cannon. Through this initiative a promotional institutional video was created for businesses throughout Illinois as well as to be played at the Illinois State Fair.

According to Ricky his greatest accomplishment during his incarceration is his development and creation of Choices Not Chance, a Juvenile Mentorship program based around informing at-risk and justice-involved youth about the power of choices and the causative factors of their decisions.
To date Ricky has fully engaged with the community as an agent of change for equity. Ricky is a Reentry Coordinator for Phalanx Family Services, where he oversees the implementation of the The Reentry Navigation Initiative: Road Home program. Ricky is a 2023 Fellow for the Justice Advisory Council's Safety and Justice Challenge' Racial Equity Cohort. He also sits on the Advisory Board for the Education Justice Project for the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, the Reentry Guide Initiative. Ricky also sits on the participant Advisory Board for Housing Choice Partners was former Outreach Coordinator for Greenwood Archer Capital, PERC (Pathways [to] Enterprise [for] Returning Citizens, an entrepreneurship program for the formerly incarcerated as well is a member and has co hosted the Illinois Reentry Council Housing workgroup and Ricky is an executive board member for the Chicago Community Bond Fund.
Ricky's passion lies in providing a guiding light and support for other returning citizens and the youth who may also be on the path of incarceration or system involvement. Working for and with renown youth organizations such as The Support Group and Grand Champions he gets to engage this population on a large scale all throughout the Chicagoland area.
With the launching of GOT JOBS AMERICA, Ricky believes he and his team can positively and effectively improve the lives of so many for generations to come and in the end for him that's what its all about.