I’m Johnny Reed. I’m 39 years old.

I first heard about GLIDE through a friend who worked here. At the time, I was working as a boxing trainer and for a company that serviced Sprinter vans used by dog-grooming businesses. When my friend told me about GLIDE, I wanted to check it out. 

I’ve always been drawn to work that helps people. Through boxing, I coach individuals through challenges and help them build confidence. GLIDE felt like another opportunity to serve people who are facing difficult circumstances and make a positive impact on their lives. 

I’ve been at GLIDE for nearly a year, and the time has flown by. 

Career Development 

I was recently promoted to an assistant manager position. While I was excited about the opportunity, I also felt prepared for it because of the work I’d been doing and the relationships I’d built with my coworkers and supervisors. 

I’m always looking for ways to grow and improve. Wherever I go, I try to be genuine and wholehearted in the way I support people. When the assistant manager position became available, I believed I could contribute in that role and continue developing professionally while helping the team succeed. 

Role of Ambassador 

What I enjoy most about being an ambassador is helping people and seeing their lives change. 

Sometimes, at the end of the day, it can feel like nothing is happening. Maybe nobody accepts the assistance we’re offering. Then a week or a month later, you learn that someone found shelter, got clean, or made another positive change in their life. Those are the moments that mean the most to me. 

One story that has stayed with me happened recently. A young pregnant woman came to GLIDE after experiencing a very difficult situation. She had learned that the man she was with was a sex offender, and he had been physically abusing her. She wanted to return to her family near Sacramento. 

She came to GLIDE, and we sat down with her and listened to what she was going through. She was very scared. We were able to help her reconnect with her family and get somewhere safe quickly. Knowing that we could help her reunite with her loved ones during such a difficult time was a beautiful feeling. 

Working as an ambassador at GLIDE has also opened my eyes to what people experience every day right outside our doors. One of the biggest eye-openers for me has been seeing families, women, and children walking past people openly using drugs. Sometimes they must step into the street just to avoid the smoke. Seeing that has made me think deeply about the challenges our community faces and the work that still needs to be done. 

My commitment to helping others is rooted in many of my own life experiences growing up in Oakland. 

Life in Oakland 

I grew up in Oakland, and when I look back on my childhood, it felt fun and normal at the time. As I got older and gained more perspective, I realized that some of the things I experienced weren’t necessarily healthy or typical for a child. 

I come from a large family with ten siblings. Three of my sisters are older than me, so although I’m one of the older boys, I’ve always felt a little like a middle child. 

My parents loved us deeply, and I want to make that clear. There was a lot of love in our home. But because both of my parents struggled with drugs and alcohol, there wasn’t much structure or discipline. The lifestyle they were living wasn’t a positive example for me, my siblings, or the other children around us. 

It took me a long time to realize that I wanted something different for myself. I was probably around 28 or 29 when I started thinking, “I need to do better. I need a better way of living.” 

Although I grew up around drugs, I never used them myself. My family has experienced a lot over the years, including the loss of my younger brother to gun violence in Oakland about 13 years ago.

Despite those hardships, my family is doing well today. Everyone is working, raising their children, getting married, and continuing to move forward. 

Boxing as a Discipline 

                               Johnny teaching boxing skills to the next generation

Boxing has always been an important part of my life. My dad boxed in college, and that’s where my interest began. 

What I love about boxing is the discipline and the challenge. I enjoy being pushed, pushing myself, and constantly working to improve. But boxing is about much more than learning how to fight. 

For me, boxing builds structure and confidence. When you understand what you’re capable of, you don’t feel like you have to prove yourself to anyone, unless you’re in the ring. Outside the ring, there’s no reason to fight anybody. 

Boxing gave me that confidence. There was a period when I stopped training, but when I returned to the sport, it reminded me of everything boxing had given me throughout my life and helped me rebuild my confidence. 

That’s also what I love about coaching. I’m not just teaching someone how to throw punches. I’m helping young people develop confidence, structure, and discipline. 

A lot of kids start boxing because they think they want to fight. Once they begin training, they realize it’s something completely different. They discover the value of discipline, hard work, and self-confidence. What young person wouldn’t benefit from that? 

I want to continue coaching and working with young people because I love seeing them grow, believe in themselves, and develop the discipline they need to succeed. 

Looking Forward 

As for my future at GLIDE, I’m focused on continuing to grow and remaining open to new opportunities. I want to keep learning, developing my skills, and contributing wherever I can make the biggest impact. 

I live in Brentwood now. Once I started driving, I got comfortable with the commute. 

If someone is hesitant about coming to GLIDE for help, I tell them that I’m here for them. I explain what GLIDE offers and how we can support them. 

I don’t just speak from opinion. I speak from experience. I’ve seen a lot through my family, and I’ve seen people living in circumstances they shouldn’t have to endure. I approach people with love, respect, and a genuine desire to help them improve their situation. 

Many times, when I share a little of my own story, it encourages people. They begin to trust me, come to GLIDE, or simply become more willing to listen. 

Whether I’m coaching in a boxing gym or working as an ambassador at GLIDE, my goal is the same: to help people recognize their own strength. I want people to know that I approach them with love, respect, and a genuine desire to help.

Sometimes all someone needs are support and someone who believes in them.