Life Skills
Fortified Academy’s Life Skills Program is more than just practical training—it’s a pathway to personal growth, emotional stability, and long-term success. We combine hands-on life skills education with the guidance of trained mental health peer coaches to bring hope, trust, and healing to our participants.
Our peer coaches bring lived experience and compassionate understanding, creating a safe space where individuals can openly navigate challenges, identify triggers, develop emotional intelligence, and receive personalized support on their journey to build confidence, resilience, and healthy coping strategies.
Whether you’re rebuilding after a setback or striving to reach new goals, our holistic approach supports the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.
Because thriving takes more than skills. It takes support.
Our uniquely designed program helps individuals build skills, relationships and confidence to move them forward on their journey toward independence and wellness…and ultimately success in achieving their goals and building a fulfilling life.
Participants will experience growth through the different modules below. Together, our modules go beyond basic training—building a foundation for personal growth, recovery, and long-term career success.
Personal Inspection Module
The Personal Inspection module is designed to build self-awareness and accountability, empowering participants to take ownership of their personal and professional growth.
Through Peer Support Services, we provide:
One-on-one coaching from certified peer specialists with lived experience
Emotional support and mentoring
Skill-building for recovery and wellness
We also offer Group Facilitation, including:
Support groups led or co-led by trained peer coaches
Recovery and wellness groups such as WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) and SMART Recovery
Hazards Module
The Hazards module strengthens problem-solving and critical thinking skills, helping participants confidently navigate challenges both on and off the road. This module equips future drivers to recognize risks and make sound decisions under pressure.
Positioning Module
The Positioning module prepares participants for lasting success in the trucking industry by focusing on career readiness.
We address:
Interview preparation and professional presentation
Resume development and strategies for explaining employment gaps
Technology skills are essential for modern trucking careers
This module also includes Care Coordination Support, offering:
Guidance to understand and access services
Help with scheduling appointments and ensuring follow-up
Support with coordinating transportation and logistics
Therapy Thursday is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to mental health and wellness resources for Black, African-American, and BIPOC communities. They work to dismantle stigma by fostering community, providing culturally responsive education, creating inclusive media, and offering workshops and storytelling experiences that prioritize healing, representation, and emotional well-being.
Fortified Academy is excited to collaborate with this organization to bring top quality services to our participants.
Life skills go beyond practical tasks—they are about developing the emotional, mental, and spiritual tools to navigate life’s toughest seasons. True life skills empower us to heal, rebuild, and move forward with purpose, even when life feels unbearable.
Our Executive Director, Monica Gilbert, knows this journey personally.
In her powerful story, A Shattered Heart, Monica shares her emotional walk through unimaginable loss after the tragic murder of her son, Donté. Through raw honesty and deep vulnerability, Monica opens her heart, revealing how her faith in God was shaken, how grief tested every part of her being, and how she ultimately chose to lean into God’s sovereignty.
Her story isn’t just about loss—it’s about life skills in their truest form: resilience, faith, emotional awareness, and the courage to keep going. Monica’s journey shows us what it means to process anger, frustration, hurt, and hopelessness while still choosing to believe there is a plan and purpose beyond the pain.
Through A Shattered Heart; A Journey of Hope, Trust and Healing, Monica not only shares her personal healing process but also provides a roadmap for others who are navigating grief, trauma, or any life-altering experience. Her story inspires us to develop the life skills that matter most—hope, trust, forgiveness, and love.
If your heart has ever been shattered, if you’ve faced moments where life knocked you off your feet, Monica’s story will remind you: you can take the first step toward healing, and you don’t have to do it alone.
Life skills aren’t just about surviving—they’re about finding your way to thrive again.