Be The Change: Justin Margolis

Be The Change: Justin Margolis

Unconventionally Different

Justin Margolis, co-coordinator of Butte Parent Café in Chico, CA, took a shockingly unconventional route to becoming an advocate for children and a role model for parents. A series of traumatic events while visiting his estranged father plunged Justin into 18 years of self-destruction through smoking, drinking and drugs. “I knew I would go to prison eventually,” he says matter-of-factly. “For my lifestyle, the natural progression was juvenile detention, then prison.”

Justin spent a total of three years in prison for drug convictions. While serving one sentence, he received word of his first son’s birth. Finally, while staring down a long prison hallway, Justin made a decision. He didn’t know what change would look like, but he knew he no longer wanted the lifestyle that ended in that hallway.

In 2001, four months after his release, a screen printing company in Chico hired Justin. “I’m eternally grateful,” Justin says, “They gave me the foundation I needed.” About three years later, Justin gained custody of his second son, 15-month-old Devin. Recognizing he needed help, Justin reached out to Valley Oak Children’s Services (VOCS) and received the support he needed to begin a whole new life as a full-time father. “Making the decision to change my life was one thing,” Justin says, “then I had to learn to think clearly and reprogram my head.”

In 2013, upon the urging of his VOCS caseworkers, Justin applied for a new job at VOCS. During his interview, he laid his cards on the table. “I’m not going to tell you I have all the degrees and education,” he said, “but if you want someone with the experience of homelessness and drug addiction, I’ve got that.” To his surprise, VOCS asked him to join them in launching a new pilot program, Butte Parent Café.

Supporting Families and Inmates

Now, five years down the road, Butte Parent Café has become a key VOCS program, offering families a monthly night out for a meal, childcare, practical parenting tips and an open forum for discussing how to parent well. Justin sets the tone by sharing his own story. “My life experience,” he says, “has taught me that if you want to make a difference, be authentic. I can’t change the past. No matter how far away I get from it, it will always be there. But if I’m honest and open about my past, it’s not my burden to carry anymore.” Co-coordinator Shauna Groves has seen Butte Parent Café flourish under Justin’s authenticity. She describes Justin as “the face of our program and a well-known resource across the state on father engagement,” adding that Justin’s honesty allows others to share openly as well.  

Justin’s journey has also equipped him to volunteer with InsideOut Dad, a 12-week program designed by the National Fatherhood Initiative to help incarcerated fathers offer positive parenting—even from prison. “Many men in prison love their kids and don’t want their kids to follow in their footsteps,” Justin says. InsideOut Dad helps fathers evaluate and understand their own stories to help break negative generational cycles. When he talks with these fathers, Justin says his experiences immediately pave the way for authentic, restorative conversations. Karen Marlatt, CEO of VOCS, admires how Justin relates to so many people. “Justin has taught me to see the world from different perspectives,” she says. “He has helped me to focus on people’s strengths and to not be judgmental.”  

On Being a Parent

Justin continues to walk alongside the parents he works with as he raises 15-year-old Devin, who lives at home. The two enjoy hiking, biking, playing basketball and travelling to national parks together, but even the best parent-child relationships bring their challenges. “Being a parent is difficult, and being a single parent is twice as difficult,” Justin says. “I’ve learned to apologize if I snap at my kid at the end of a long day. I’ve also learned not to feel embarrassed or like I’m failing by taking advantage of programs, or by accepting help from a friend.” This humility keeps the doors open for Justin’s personal growth and for making a difference in others’ lives. “The best part,” Justin says, “is that it doesn’t feel like work. It seems like this is what I was supposed to do.”  

The mission of our be the change column is to feature community members from the north state who are actively making a difference in community life. If you would like  to nominate someone who is making a difference, please write  to pn@northstateparent.com.