Robert “Bobby” Pate Jr. is the founder of IMAGE 4 Lives. His Mission is “To help people who want to help themselves against all odds. Image 4 Lives was originally designed to help inmates better utilize their time while incarcerated to become purpose driven citizens and prepare for successful re-entry. This program which earned the support of Warden Cornel Smith and Deputy Warden Adam Yetmar has seen tremendous growth since inception February 2016.
Bobby Pate is an example of someone who has used his time in incarceration to turn his life around and help the lives of other inmates. He will be the first to tell you that without his faith in God and Jesus Christ none of it would have been possible.
Bobby was an outstanding high school basketball player at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa. After graduating he received a four-year college basketball scholarship and played at both NIACC and the University of Hawaii at Hilo. His dream was to become a NBA star. Although he was not drafted by the NBA he did begin playing in the CBA (Continental Basketball Association) which allowed him the opportunity for extensive overseas travel. It was during this period that his life began to take a dramatic turn for the worse. While trying to overcome his disappointment of not playing in the “Big Leagues”, he chose another method of making big league money, crack cocaine distribution. The fast money and lavish lifestyle became addictive and drove him deeper and deeper into a world that was pleasing to his flesh but disgraceful to his spiritual and educated mind. Before long he had not only lost his self-identity but his career in basketball, his support system and was arrested and sent to prison.
Unlike many inmates, Bobby decided to turn his life around and soon discovered that sharing his convictions and helping other inmates made him more accountable to himself as well as to God. He took advantage of business classes and other programs offered at the institution and learned new ways of dealing with the stress of incarceration and the disappointment of being isolated from family and friends. As Bobby says “Prison has altered my mind. It’s been the most humiliating experience of my life, but ironically it’s been the best thing that ever happened to me.
Since being released from prison, Bobby has launched The IMAGE 4 Lives program to the public in the greater Des Moines area. He is working to help other recently released individuals get the start they need to have a successful life outside of prison.
To reduce recidivism, to provide the solution for transportation, clothing for job readiness and allow opportunity for those who are disadvantaged for employment. The burden of ex offender does not end with the time served and the monetary fees or costs associated with living expenses while being incarcerated.
This work is needed to serve Polk County and help with emotional and financial stress.
Such as:
Re-Entry transportation- which includes Bus passes & Gas Cards. This service will provide a service that will support Ex-offenders & low income working families to look for jobs and be able to get to work.
Re- Entry clothing- which includes Factory and Apprenticeship clothing for white and blue collar working industry. We will provide Wal-Mart cards to purchase; steel toe shoes, pants, and shirt This service will provide appropriate clothing to fulfill clothing requirements for jobs.
Identification Cards- To help provide finances to obtain identification. This service will help individuals have appropriate identification for employment requirements.
Bobby is the host of The Image Re-Entry radio show on 98.3 FM. The show is on the radio from 9am - 10am on Sunday mornings. Bobby hosts a number of interesting guests to help educate the community on this important topic. Bobby is currently seeking sponsors for 2019 to continue this radio show. You can listen to past episodes here: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/anchor-podcasts/the-image-reentry-show
Bobby is also hosting a monthly talent show at the Des Moines Social Club.
To learn more about the IMAGE 4 Lives program go to their website: https://image4lives.com/
IMAGE 4 Lives is a 501c3 and accepts donations of all sizes.
To contact Robert Pate directly, you can email him at: rpate.image@mail.com