Keldren Joshua: A Story of Second Chances

Keldren Joshua spent a decade behind bars—ten years of his life defined not by who he was, but by a system that didn’t see the man, only the charge.

In 2006, Keldren pled guilty to a non-violent drug offense. Despite having no history of violent crime and only prior traffic warrants, he was sentenced to 15 years to life.

But his story didn’t end there.

In 2016, something extraordinary happened. As part of a clemency initiative to correct harsh sentencing laws, President Barack Obama commuted Keldren’s sentence. After ten long years, he walked out of Terminal Island with nothing but the clothes on his back, a powerful story in his heart, and his mother’s arms waiting to catch him.

His mom, Cheryl Shiver, had fought tirelessly. She believed in her son when the system didn’t. She knew the man he truly was—kind, thoughtful, and ready for redemption. And on that day in August, the world saw it too.

Since his release, Keldren’s life has been about purpose. Not bitterness. Not blame. Just a quiet, steady pursuit of becoming the man he always knew he could be—one who builds, gives back, and proves that even after the darkest chapter, the story isn’t over.

It’s just getting started.