In His Own Words
My name is Emilio Callejas and I have been a resident with Pathway Homes for over 25 years. I currently live by myself in an apartment in Fairfax City, and I am very happy there.
I have been involved with Pathways’ Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) for about 5 years. The CAC is a group of Pathway Homes residents that acts as a liaison between the residents and Pathway Homes leadership. We actively reach out to the residents to obtain input and feedback regarding Pathway Homes’ services and programs.
As part of the CAC, we make an annual trip to Richmond to meet with state delegates and senators to advocate for Pathway Homes, the homeless, those experiencing mental illnesses and those addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We learn how to tell our stories and advocate for people with lived experience of mental illnesses and/or homelessness. The CAC meets monthly, and I have the opportunity to socialize with the other members. We do a lot of activities, such as attending conferences, and engaging in personal enrichment opportunities.
My hobbies include walking, reading, watching documentaries that are educational, and socializing on Facebook. I also read newspapers, magazines, and books such as non-fiction and lessons in philosophy. One of my favorite movies is The Saint of Fort Washington. It was filmed in the 1980’s and is about mental illness and the homeless based in New York City. It stars Danny Glover and Matt Dillon. I highly recommend it.
My journey began when I was a 40-day old newborn baby. My father, who was an Agronomics Engineer, died tragically on a farm driving agricultural tractor machinery while trying to help one of his workers. My mom, who had a mental illness, committed suicide when I was 14. There were many people in my family who helped take care of me after my parents were gone. When I was 13 years old, I worked in my first full-time in my family’s factory. I had only a 7th-grade education. At one time I was working three jobs, 90 hours a week, and earning below the hourly minimum wage in Virginia.
I studied and got my GED, then graduated from Northern Virginia Community College. I worked for the Department of Defense as an intern and then eventually got a job at the Department of Homeland Security. I also did volunteer work for many years. In addition to my career, I started at George Mason University working on a double major in Geography and Latin American Studies. I moved to Miami for four years. I came back to Virginia with $2 dollars in my pocket and ended up at Baileys Community Shelter. The social workers at the shelter helped me tremendously and led me to Pathway Homes.
Pathway Homes is a great nonprofit and is a flagship organization in this country that has helped thousands of people. I am so happy with Pathway Homes, social services, and the mental health system. They all saved my life. I believe it really takes a village, and I wouldn’t have all the opportunities I have now if it weren’t for everyone who helped me throughout my life. I was an orphan with no parents. The system took care of me.
Since I have received so much, I want to give back. I want to pay it forward. My life’s mission is to give back to the people who helped me. They gave me a second chance for which I am so thankful. As for my goals, I plan to continue my treatment and continue to improve my mental and physical health. I will take it one day at a time and try to be better than the day before. Most importantly, I want to serve because I received so much from others; my village. I want to give back for the rest of my life.
Thank you, Emilio, for your service on the Pathway Homes Consumer Advisory Council, and for your amazing optimism and drive. You are a true inspiration to others!
