When Gregory arrived at NCIA, he was nearing the end of a 29-year period of incarceration, living in a local federal halfway house. With quiet determination and a clear vision for his future, he shared a simple goal: “I just wanted to live a life as close to normal as possible.”
While still incarcerated, Mr. Grier made the most of every opportunity—working during the day and studying a CDL manual at night, preparing himself for a fresh start. After his release, he enrolled in NCIA’s Vocational Training Center in the CDL training program, focused on obtaining a commercial driver’s license.
During training, he worked as a stocker at Food Lion, earning $15 an hour. Once he secured his CDL license, Food Lion offered him a promotion to a Switcher position, increasing his pay to $23 an hour.
Today, Gregory is not only building a career—he’s rebuilding his life. With his earnings, he’s been able to renovate a family home in Charlotte, NC, creating a space that reflects his hard work and goals toward stability.
Gregory explains his time with NCIA as “a really good dream that is just not ending.”
