Steven M. Castillo is a passionate and dedicated professional in the fields of addiction counseling, peer support, and mental health, with over 40 years of lived experience and a commitment to empowering others through education and personal growth. As a Certified CADC II and Peer Support Specialist, Steven has worked tirelessly to help individuals overcome their struggles with substance use, trauma, and mental health challenges, both within the criminal justice system and in the community.

Steven's personal journey has shaped his approach to helping others. He grew up in an environment marked by addiction and violence, spending time in foster homes, juvenile hall, and youth authority institutions. His adult life was also defined by repeated incarceration, spending 36 years in the California prison system, including 15 years in solitary confinement, much of it in the notorious Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) Security Housing Unit (SHU). Despite these hardships, Steven's resilience and commitment to self-improvement led to his eventual release through the California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH). As a former lifer, he understands the complex barriers faced by individuals in the criminal justice system and works to assist them in navigating their paths to parole, resentencing, and reintegration.

Beyond his work with incarcerated individuals, Steven is a respected advocate for prisoners' rights, recognized for his successful legal challenges against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) policies regarding gang validation and indefinite solitary confinement placements without due process.

Steven’s educational journey has been equally transformative. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in social science at the University of Arizona, with a focus on counseling and human services. His academic work is rooted in a deep commitment to fostering change, drawing on his own experiences to educate others on the importance of personal growth, accountability, and resilience.

Through Presto Courses, Steven combines his education, training, and lived experience to develop impactful self-help and rehabilitation programs. His mission is to empower individuals at all stages of life—whether they are overcoming addiction, navigating the criminal justice system, or seeking personal transformation—to become the best versions of themselves. By incorporating healthy lifestyle practices, emotional intelligence, and goal-setting strategies, Steven helps students build the skills they need to create positive, lasting changes in their lives.

Danielle Macias is the visionary founder and creative director of True-Blue Stationery, a heartfelt enterprise dedicated to providing personalized stationery for individuals with incarcerated loved ones. What began as a deeply personal effort to remain connected with her husband, Jose, during his 25-year sentence has blossomed into a thriving business that now serves as a vital bridge for families facing the hardships of incarceration.

In 2014, Danielle began designing customized cards filled with messages of love, encouragement, and unwavering support for Jose. What started as a passion project soon evolved into a full-fledged business, True Blue Stationery, which now empowers families to maintain meaningful connections with their loved ones behind bars and fosters emotional resilience in the face of separation.

Beyond her entrepreneurial accomplishments, Danielle played a pivotal role in Jose’s journey toward resentencing. Throughout his incarceration, she worked diligently to support his rehabilitation—assembling a comprehensive packet that documented his growth, securing letters of community support, and collaborating with advocacy organizations dedicated to justice reform. Her tireless efforts not only contributed to Jose’s successful resentencing but also reflect her steadfast belief in redemption, second chances, and the transformative power of love and commitment.

Danielle welcomed Jose home in 2021 after he was resentenced to time served. Since then, she has remained dedicated to her work of helping families maintain meaningful connections with their incarcerated loved ones through her heartfelt cards and stationery. Jose spent three years working in the laborers' union before being offered a position with the city, where he has since flourished in his new role.Together, they remain committed to supporting friends who are still incarcerated and sharing their story of resilience and renewal—demonstrating that incarceration does not define a person's future, and that hope and possibility exist beyond the prison walls.

As a passionate advocate for families affected by incarceration, Danielle draws on her own lived experience to support and uplift others facing similar challenges. In addition to her work with True Blue Stationery, Danielle has helped to found Presto Courses, a platform dedicated to empowering individuals through education and self-improvement. She joined forces with Steven M. Castillo to provide accessible, actionable learning tools for those affected by the criminal justice system and addiction. By helping to found Presto Courses, Danielle aims to broaden her impact, offering educational resources that help families and individuals build resilience, improve communication, and foster personal growth in the face of challenges. Together, Danielle and Steven are creating a community of support and empowerment for those navigating the path to rehabilitation.

Danielle’s journey is a powerful example of resilience, creativity, and compassion. Through her work with True Blue Stationery, her advocacy efforts, and her founding work at Presto Courses, she has become a leading voice for families impacted by incarceration, helping them build strong connections and find hope in the face of adversity. Her story highlights the strength of the human spirit and the importance of supporting those who are incarcerated on their path to rehabilitation and redemption.

She Made Personalized Cards for Her Husband in Prison. Then She Realized Thousands of Prison Wives Would Buy Them. | Entrepreneur

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