When Memphis police responded to a prowler call in North Memphis, they found teenagers seeking relief from the blazing heat in an abandoned house with air conditioning. Officer Randy Taylor could have easily charged Ladareious Evans and his friends with trespassing, but instead he listened to their story about cutting grass to earn money for food. Evans explained they were just trying to cool off after finishing a lawn care job, but worried that people judged them because of stereotypes.
Rather than write citations, Taylor saw an opportunity and gave Evans his business card. Taylor started a nonprofit called Hope Activated, dedicated to mentoring teens and young men by bringing them into positive environments where they can learn that people care about them. Now Evans works with Taylor, mowing lawns and helping at the officer’s church while pursuing his goal of getting a welding certificate for underwater work in the oil industry. What began as a potential criminal charge has become a powerful example of how compassion and second chances can completely redirect a young person’s path toward success.