Program Details

After spending 7 years in a federal prison and not having a High School Diploma or GED, Robert Hopkins knew that his employment options were limited. He knew he had to be able to support his family of 4 and his mom, who relied on him for transportation to doctor appointments and her grocery shopping. He knew employment as a dishwasher at a local pub would not be enough to sustain his family. Lansdowne UP, a non-profit that provides services in the Lansdowne neighborhood of East St. Louis, offered Robert a good-paying full-time opportunity and overlooked his legal background and lack of experience. St. Clair County Workforce assisted with utility pants and work boots after his supervisor noticed all he had were tennis shoes to work with, in the snow, and reimbursed Lansdowne UP for a portion of his $17 an hour wage. The position allowed Robert to obtain skills training in areas he had no idea he would be able to do. They also mentored him to understand how he needed to change how he looked at life, family, and what was truly important; he needed to react and think differently to move out of his way and proceed upward to his potential.

It was hard at first, Robert didn’t think he could be part of a team—he wanted to work alone and avoid being influenced by people like he did before. His mentor and supervisor started him on a small team-building project for a new solar greenhouse near Lansdowne UP. His supervisor recognized that Robert had more hidden talents and offered him a chance to work in the Jones Park, East St. Louis greenhouse. Being a lifelong East St. Louis resident, Robert embarked on a career path he had no idea he was even interested in! He loved working with plants and discovering different potting and growing methods to help start a garden, where you could provide healthy food to feed a family! He also learned how therapeutic gardening was, which was needed to help with the pressures of being a devoted father and son, and doing all this while working full-time and getting his High School Diploma!
His skill and dedication were soon noticed by his mentors, and he was offered a chance to become a Master Gardener. This was difficult while supporting his family and helping his mom. Having a felony record almost derailed this goal, but thanks to Lansdowne UP staff support, Robert was able to do the training and get the certificate!

Robert is now on his way to taking the ISA Master Certified Arborist credential—the highest level of certification offered by ISA. With this credential, he can work with a municipality in their parks and recreation department, offer professional landscaping and maintenance skills to local organizations and corporations, and eventually own his own business!

Robert has said he was never a bad person, just hung around and listened to the wrong people when he was younger…made the wrong choices. “Living in East St. Louis all my life, I noticed we have limited options in the schools, because everyone tells us we have limited choices. Lansdowne UP helped me see my life differently--as it could be. You know, your mom always tells you she’s proud of you, but having a whole group of people tell you they are proud of you makes me feel good!”