Page 25 - The Power to Change Anything

14 INFLUENCER

Dr. Silbert’s typical new hires have had four felony convic-
tions. They’ve been homeless for years, and most are lifetime
drug addicts. Within hours of joining Delancey, they are work-
ing in a restaurant, moving company, car repair shop, or one
of the many Delancey companies. And other than Silbert her-
self, these felons and addicts make up the entire population at
Delancey. No therapists. No professional staff. No donations,
no grants, no guards—just a remarkable influence strategy that
has profoundly changed the lives of 14,000 employees over the
past 30 years. Of those who join Delancey, over 90 percent
never go back to drugs or crime. Instead they earn degrees,
become professionals, and change their lives. Forever.

MEET JAMES

One of the employees we met is a well-scrubbed, affable but
steely-eyed fellow we’ll call James. James’s story is typical of Sil-
bert’s staff. Like many of the 500 residents living on the San
Francisco campus, James was a career criminal and drug addict
before coming to Delancey. And like most, he started young.
After four years as a regular runaway, criminal, and drug abuser,
James turned 10. By that time Illinois was fed up with his
shenanigans and had tracked down James’s father—who aban-
doned him at age one. State justice authorities wished James
good luck as they stood at a gate at the O’Hare airport while
making sure he understood that he was no longer welcome in
Chicago.
James flew to Oakland, California, where he took up resi-
dence with his father near the docks. The first lesson his dear
old dad taught him was how to shoot heroin. The next 25 years
consisted of an uninterrupted period of violent crime, drug
abuse, and prison time. Six years ago he was convicted of yet
another violent offense and sentenced to 18 years with no hope
of parole for 16 years. That’s when he asked to join Delancey
rather than serve his full sentence.