Self-Development and Leadership: Rescue Mission's Ellis LaGrone Shares His Story

M. Todd Manuel
FWIS Contributing Writer

Although his story begins with unfortunate circumstances, Ellis LaGrone has made lemonade out of the past lemons he created for himself. Ellis was facing criminal charges at the end of 2017, so his lawyer gave him two options: to go to drug court or go to prison. Ellis returned to his cell block to pray before beginning his new journey. Ellis knew he had never tried anything other than prison for sentencing and wanted to change his life for the better and for good! So, after praying and thinking, Ellis chose the drug court option, an alternative sentencing program within Allen Superior Court. According to the court's website, a drug court is a "free-standing Problem-Solving Court Program that promotes abstinence, recovery, lasting change, and community safety."

Being down on his luck, Ellis chose a different path this time and was sentenced to complete home detention, and while on that program, he lived at the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. At the Rescue Mission, Ellis was given even more encouragement as he eventually built relationships with the facility's staff and got to know others in the same position. Using program resources, Ellis found a job that didn't pay much but was enough to get him going and establish work experience. "I only made about 8 dollars an hour working for a local potato chip company," said Ellis. Ellis knew that this was not much to help in the long term but believed that he needed to crawl before he could walk. However, Ellis was a man who changed his attitude by changing his perspective from money and towards turning his life around. He began seeing the opportunity for what it was, not what he wished it was, and focused on keeping a job long enough to get another one.

"I said, Lord, if you bless me with this, I'll do my best and be determined to change my life around." That's precisely what Ellis did and before he knew it; he was off to another job, almost doubling his last job's hourly wage. "I was working with Mayor Tom Henry and The Ten Point Coalition, and then I moved on to Shambaugh & Sons." By this time, nearly three years later, Ellis had managed to stay out of trouble, but he did so by volunteering for the same organization, the Rescue Mission that helped him get his life on another path. After working third-shift, Ellis would come to the Rescue Mission to volunteer, inspire, and be inspired. Before he knew it, the Mission's director Mr. Donovan had offered him a job. Donovan shared with Ellis how he had witnessed God working and believed that he was establishing a great foundation.

At first, Ellis was semi-reluctant to join the Mission's staff full time, knowing he had a good job and a great opportunity at his then employer. He didn't want to leave the place that gave him an excellent opportunity to grow but was aware of the growing passion for volunteering and helping encourage others at the Mission. Ellis was wildly successful at inspiring men at the shelter because he had been a program participant. Being in their shoes helped Ellis connect in a way that worked for those who knew him from the streets. "I wanted to keep my time occupied, so for some time, I worked three jobs, " said Ellis." Eventually settling on just the Rescue Mission and Shambaugh, Ellis became a full-time staff member and the director of Vocational Programs at The Rescue Mission.

"At first, my wife had trouble understanding why I kept returning to the Reuse Mission...I explained to her that this [ volunteering at the shelter] was doing so much for me to help me stay sober, and talking to the guys has helped me stay accountable”. He explained that working with the men was a pleasure and had worked there for five years. He now makes a greater impact as the vocational programs director who helps the program's participants gain skills needed at the facility and within the general workforce. It is also one of many programs that help the participants find jobs and do well after they leave the facility. "We all have challenges, and so do some of our people," said Ellis. He explained how the national drug epidemic presents new challenges for the Rescue Mission. While many of the organizations help addicts, ultimately, it is the addict themselves who must stay committed to staying off of drugs.

Ellis's story represents what Fort Wayne is and how well its organizations and programs support the area's residents. However, for Ellis to make the change and become the man he is today, he needed help from several organizations with great causes. "When they see me, they want to change and ask me how I do it, so I tell them," said Ellis in closing. Ellis' story is inspiring and a testament to self-development and goodwill toward helping others do the same. See more about Ellis's story on the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission's website, https://fwrm.org/about-the-mission/videos.