10/06/2026
Today, we are proud to celebrate Eric Luna and his successful completion of the Frontier Community Services Reentry Program. Eric has worked hard to build a life grounded in accountability, stability, and opportunity. We invited him to share his journey and what the program’s support has meant to him. Here is his story, in his own words:
"My name is Eric Luna, and my journey to where I am today has not been an easy one.
I grew up in San Diego, California, and began using methamphetamine when I was 16 years old. My substance use, combined with my inability to deal with life on life’s terms, communicate in a healthy way, or handle conflict without violence, created a destructive cycle of addiction, domestic violence, incarceration, and starting over. I moved to different places believing that a new environment might give me a fresh start, but I eventually learned that no matter where I went, I brought the same problems with me.
I came to Alaska in 2016, and that cycle continued. I was in and out of jail until I was finally held accountable for my actions in a way that forced me to look at the one thing I had never truly addressed myself.
I spent approximately five years incarcerated, and I made the decision that I was going to use that time to change my life. Instead of simply doing my time, I worked on understanding and correcting the behaviors that had brought me there.
I completed substance abuse treatment, anger management, conflict resolution and alternatives to violence programming, and the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. After completing the Level 3.5 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program, I stayed on as a Peer Mentor for approximately one year so that I could use what I had learned to help other men working through their own recovery. With the encouragement and support of my counselors, I was also given the opportunity to complete coursework and pursue certification as a Counselor Technician.
I accomplished a great deal while incarcerated, but I also knew that some of the hardest work would begin when I walked out the door. I would have to apply everything I had learned while rebuilding a life from the ground up in a world I had not been a part of for years.
That is where the Reentry Program and Kaci made an incredible difference in my life.
When I reached out for help, I was met with kindness, understanding, and dignity rather than judgment based on my past. Kaci helped me obtain a cell phone so I could meet my probation requirements, communicate with potential employers, and begin rebuilding my life. She helped me establish a post office box so I could receive the identification documents, employment information, program records, and legal paperwork I needed to move forward.
During the early stages of my reentry, transportation was also a significant challenge. While I was still trying to get back on my feet, Kaci assisted me with gas cards so that I could get to required appointments and take care of the responsibilities necessary to successfully reestablish myself in the community. Having reliable access to transportation meant I did not have to choose between meeting an obligation and paying for another basic necessity.
When I attended Alaska Driving Academy to obtain my Class A CDL, the Reentry Program provided me with a Fred Meyer gift card so I could afford groceries and basic necessities while I focused on completing my training. I successfully earned my Class A CDL.
Kaci then helped me navigate the DMV process and obtain my driver’s license and REAL ID, removing another major barrier to employment and independence.
When another opportunity came for me to travel to Anchorage for training with the Ironworkers, Kaci and the Reentry Program assisted me with housing so that I could participate in the training. I successfully completed the process and was accepted into the Ironworkers apprenticeship program. Once I received the apprenticeship, Kaci continued to support my transition into employment by providing me with a Fred Meyer voucher to purchase the work clothes I needed to begin working. That assistance allowed me to take an opportunity I had worked hard to earn and actually turn it into employment and a career path.
To some people, a cell phone, a mailing address, groceries, gas, identification, work clothes, or temporary housing may seem like ordinary things. To someone leaving incarceration and starting over with almost nothing, they can be the difference between moving forward and falling back into the same cycle.
The Reentry Program did not do the work for me. It gave me the support and resources I needed so that the work I had already begun could continue. I still had to show up, follow through, complete my training, meet my obligations, and make the right decisions. But I did not have to overcome every practical barrier alone.
Today, I am working, maintaining my responsibilities, continuing to pursue professional opportunities, and using the skills I spent years developing to build a stable and productive life. I have worked hard to get to where I am, and I am proud of that work. I am also grateful enough to recognize the people who helped make that progress possible.
Kaci and the Reentry Program have been an important part of my successful transition back into the community. Their assistance has helped me turn rehabilitation into real world stability, employment, education, and opportunity.
For years, I thought starting over meant moving somewhere new. What I finally learned is that a new life begins by changing yourself. I did that work while incarcerated, and the Reentry Program helped give me the opportunity to put those changes into practice when I came home.
I am sincerely grateful to Kaci and the Reentry Program for treating me with dignity, believing that my future could be different from my past, and helping me continue moving forward as a productive member of my community.
Eric"
Thank you, Eric, for sharing your story and allowing us to be part of your journey. Your accomplishments reflect your hard work and commitment to change. Congratulations on completing the Reentry Program . We look forward to seeing all you continue to accomplish!
