Episode Description
Kimberly Moore went from a mattress in a crack house to building a $51 million campus in one of Louisville's most violent neighborhoods. The moment that changed everything came when she watched a six-year-old girl get slapped by her mother for saying she was hungry. Kimberly got up, walked out, and went to treatment. She has been sober since 1998.
In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Kimberly Moore to talk about second chances, speaking truth to power, and what it really means to never forget where you came from. Kimberly now works alongside the police who used to lock her up and has the attorney general on speed dial. She challenges donors with a simple question. "Do you want to do good, or do you want to feel good?" When a funder said no, Kimberly did not get angry. She heard "not right now." Two years later, they gave her $50,000.
For her 60th birthday, Kimberly brought everyone to the Muhammad Ali Center, the people she got high with and the people who helped her get sober. She will not apologize for her life getting good, and she will not dim her light for anyone still in darkness. Her credentials? "A PhD from the streets."
Key Takeaways
Look underneath the behavior
Behavior often reflects deeper struggles like trauma, family conflict, or unstable housing. Real support begins by addressing the root cause.
Delay is not denial
Kimberly sees rejection as "not right now." Persistence turned one funding rejection into a future $50,000 grant.
Someone took a chance on you, too
Because someone believed in her, Kimberly believes others deserve the same opportunity to change.
Sobriety doesn't mean leaving people behind
Recovery didn't separate Kimberly from her community. She stays connected so others know help is always available.
Change happens on its own timeline
People change when they're ready. Kimberly's turning point came from within, not from pressure or persuasion.
Don't count the addict out
Someone believed in Kimberly when she couldn't repay them. That grace shaped her commitment to helping others recover.
Withholding a chance wastes potential
One mistake shouldn't define a life. Second chances allow people to discover their purpose.
A PhD from the streets still counts
Kimberly embraces her past and uses it to lead, refusing to apologize for where she came from or where she's going.
In This Episode:
[00:00] Introduction
[00:27] Meet Kimberly Moore
[01:27] Kimberly’s work today
[02:22] Leaving politics for purpose
[03:27] Truth to power on violence
[07:26] Finding Homeboy Network
[09:05] Building a one-stop campus
[11:36] Second chances and self-care
[14:44] Getting sober for real
[17:35] Why people deserve more chances
[18:33] Second chances mindset
[19:44] Hard truths with families
[22:58] Right time for change
[24:52] Not apologizing for growth
[26:15] Therapy and boundaries
[27:04] Do good or feel good
[28:39] Homeboy redefines success
[29:57] Owning your story
[30:54] Hope and legacy
Notable Quotes
“I don't operate in fear, and I see so many people in corporate America that operate in fear, and I just don't.” — Kimberly [18:13]
“Being brought out of darkness comes with the responsibility to be a light for others.” — Kimberly [00:23:44]
Resources and Links
Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Media
Thomas Vozzo
The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X
Credits:
Hosted by: Tom Vozzo
Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media