Steadfast Sparrows Corporation

My name is Dr. Michelle Arredondo, I am a Co-founder at Steadfast Sparrows Corporation.

At an early age I got involved with making poor decisions at a very young age. In kindergarten I skipped school alone and got in school suspension, yes it really happened. By middle and high school , I was expelled multiple times sent to alternative school more than once before being sent to the Juvenile Justice Academy, then Juvenile Detention. Those poor decisions had exacerbated and I found myself sitting in front of a judge facing 5 years, the judge sentenced me to 6 months in prison.  After being released April 29, 2011, I was what society would consider an ex-convict and high school drop out. The Lord remains my inspiration. I met my husband Jesus on December 15, 2014 and on January 24, 2015 we were married. As an ex-convict and high school drop out I did not have many options. I met with a caseworker who told me something that would stick with me for years and was the force behind me going back to school "When you get your degree/diploma, no one or nothing can ever take away its value". From that day forward in 2017, I set sail to getting my High School Diploma. My husband just got paid and with his check and us both in agreement, I utilized the funds on my education - to invest in myself. Fully unaware of what would happen but a drive to succeed. A drive to make a difference and become someone other than an ex-convict and least likely to succeed.

Education has been the game changer for me. I share this with you to give you the perspective of why what I do is important to me. Education has given me the tools and the titles to balance out the negatives that I placed against me. More important than the credentials behind my name, education has broadened my life perspective and has given me hope. Still to this day, I receive admission and acceptance letters to my home from Universities in the United States. To date I have earned an: High School Diploma from The Victory Learning Center, Associates of Arts Degree in Psychology from San Antonio College, Bachelors of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Stephen F. Austin State University, Master of Science Degree in Nonprofit Management from Our Lady of The Lake University and a Doctoral Degree in Ministry from Pacific School of Religion. The word convictions is my and many others’ scarlet letter. Yes, I am a convicted felon. But I am also a doctor, a theologian, a scholar, a published author, a high school, community college and university guest speaker, wife, a mother to twin girls through adoption, a community organizer, an institutional leader, a youth mentor, and many other things.

 

"Eliminating me before you know all of these other great things is an injustice to society".

- Dr. Stanley Andrisse

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​My name is Jesus Arredondo, I am a Co-founder at Steadfast Sparrows Corporation.

I am so very excited to have joined forces with my wife to give the community a way to thrive in unfortunate circumstances. My focus is the medical portion. In the Spring of 2025, I contracted sepsis which quickly turned into septic shock. In a matter of days my kidney function went from over 100 to 10, talks of Dialysis were on the Table. Not only were my kidneys failing but my liver was facing some form of trauma. Before I depended on the Lord to provide my needs and get me out of this situation, I truly thought the Lord was telling me that "my time was up". The only thing I had before me was a family that was dependent on me and as I laid in the hospital bed, all I could fall back on was a High School Diploma, I really depended on the low wage employment, just trying to bring home a check. Little did I know that this was the Lord opening another door and my illness was just the beginning.

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When I was released, I found out first hand just how short life can really be by my awakening. It was time for a change and I knew it was from God. You see, I was admitted on the day that the Pope Passed away and miraculously released from the hospital on National Prayer Day. In the Fall of 2025, I enrolled myself in Medical School and to my surprise the Lord paid 99% of my tuition, supplying me with all the tools, resources and supplies to carry out this new career that he paved a way for. I graduate in the Summer of 2026.

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With this knowledge I will be able to provide all Participants of the Luminaries Program Low Cost Medical Care with the dignity and respect they so desperately deserve, but sadly often times are left with out because of others judgement. Needless to say, I am looking forward to serving you, Thank you!

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