Italo Sanchez was in a precarious position in the spring of 2015. Having spent much of his life in the carceral system since the age of 13, he found himself trapped in solitary confinement for nearly eight years. A turning point arrived unexpectedly when a fellow inmate passed him a note about a spiritual retreat at Otisville Correctional Facility. That gathering, led by Jesuit priest Zach Presutti, would ultimately set Sanchez on a new trajectory.
A Path Toward Redemption
During the retreat, participants were asked to write down their proudest accomplishments. For Sanchez, who had been a high-ranking member of the Latin Kings, the exercise was a painful confrontation with his past. He realized he had no traditional achievements to list. However, the connection he formed with Father Presutti—a man who ministered to those on death row and within the walls of Attica and Sing Sing—offered a glimmer of hope. Presutti, who founded the nonprofit Thrive For Life, saw potential in Sanchez that others had overlooked.
Building a Future Through Education
After his release in 2016, Sanchez eventually reconnected with Presutti. The priest had established Thrive For Life to provide safe, supportive housing for formerly incarcerated men who were determined to pursue a college education. Sanchez was hired to help renovate the organization’s properties in the Bronx, including the now-renowned Ignacio House. His role quickly evolved from laborer to live-in manager, where he became a mentor to other residents, guiding them through the complexities of public assistance and academic life.
Rev. Zach Presutti founded Thrive For Life, which offers safe housing to the formerly incarcerated intent on going to college.
The organization has since expanded significantly, opening additional facilities like Abraham House in the Bronx and Joseph House in Milwaukee. To date, Thrive For Life has supported 150 scholars, with 80 men successfully earning two- or four-year degrees. Partnerships with institutions like NYU have been instrumental in this success, providing a structured pipeline for students who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
The Power of Accompaniment
The core philosophy of Thrive For Life is what Presutti calls “accompaniment.” It is a commitment to walking alongside these men as they navigate the challenges of reentry, from securing vital documents to maintaining sobriety and academic focus. For individuals like Michael Pagan, who earned a degree in documentary filmmaking, the program provided the necessary environment to move past the trauma of incarceration. Today, Sanchez serves as the director of community outreach, continuing to pay forward the support he once received, while Presutti looks toward expanding the model to cities like Boston and Palm Beach.