Jaquan Adams is trying to give back to the community he says he wronged.The 28-year-old West Side native has dedicated his free time to mentoring youth in his neighborhood with a free exercise class at Lione Park after serving nearly four years in prison.It맥스카지노�s his self-assigned penance for the years he spent selling drugs to his neighbors, a practice he says 맥스카지노�destroyed good families.맥스카지노�맥스카지노�When I was incarcerated, it gave me a lot of time to sit back and think, and I figured it맥스카지노�s time for me to start giving back,맥스카지노� Adams said, proudly wearing his Ryda Fitness shirt before one of his bi-weekly classes at Lione Park. 맥스카지노�Adversity builds character. It made me a better person today.맥스카지노�He맥스카지노�s thankful now for the time he spent in prison. Adams said while he was keeping his friends and neighbors hooked on his products, he was dealing with an addiction of his own.맥스카지노�I was addicted to the money,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�I know I hurt a lot of families with that. I took away a lot from a lot of people. It맥스카지노�s time to give back.맥스카지노�Adams recalled his youth on the West Side, and the tough times his family faced financially. He looked for any way to help put food on the table.맥스카지노�When I was younger, the guys I looked up to were drug dealers. That맥스카지노�s all I knew,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�There was no food, we were struggling and I looked to the next best thing. I was a product of my environment.맥스카지노�Nine months into his prison sentence, Adams said something clicked and he was overcome with remorse for his actions and how they affected the people he loved at home. He began writing letters and making phone calls to the families he sold drugs, apologizing and promising to make amends.맥스카지노�It really hit me,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�I started to realize what I had done.맥스카지노�As Adams reminisced about these tough times, children explored the obstacle course he set up in preparation for his clients. He remembered what Lione Park and his mother맥스카지노�s apartment looked like just a few years ago and said he was grateful for the improvements that have been made.맥스카지노�The kids, they love this, even if they맥스카지노�re not in the class," he said. 맥스카지노�I let them play with the ropes and run through the cones. It맥스카지노�s good for them to have something nice.맥스카지노�Adams quickly obtained his personal trainer certification after being released from prison last year. The Westhill High School graduate and former running back on the school맥스카지노�s football team said he spent a lot of time learning about health and fitness while he was incarcerated and wanted to turn his interest into a career.His Ryda Fitness classes are offered mostly for free — he charges for adult classes and personal training services. But he says he doesn맥스카지노�t charge most of his clients, who are middle school and high school-aged children, because he doesn맥스카지노�t want anything to stand between them and a positive role model.맥스카지노�A lot of these kids, they don맥스카지노�t have any guidance,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�I맥스카지노�m just trying to show them that there are a lot better things for them out there. I want them to see there맥스카지노�s a way out of here.맥스카지노�Born and raised on the West Side, Adams decided not to return to the neighborhood when he was released from prison and instead lives with an aunt in North Stamford.맥스카지노�When it comes to the transition, you have to have your mind right,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�It맥스카지노�s easy to fall back to what I used to do ... I don맥스카지노�t think I need to come back here. I wouldn맥스카지노�t go back to the way I was if it was the last thing, don맥스카지노�t get me wrong, but I just need to be past this place.맥스카지노�That doesn맥스카지노�t mean he맥스카지노�s spending any less time on the West Side, though.맥스카지노�I feel like I can help everyone out here,맥스카지노� he said, gesturing to the evening crowd at Lione Park. 맥스카지노�I맥스카지노�m here to change lives through fitness and lift people맥스카지노�s self esteem.맥스카지노�Adams, who has a day job at Trader Joe맥스카지노�s and is helping his friend launch a juice stand at Cove Beach, has big plans for his fitness business, but said he맥스카지노�s not in a rush to expand just yet.맥스카지노�I would love to grow this outside of Stamford, get a gym,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�But a lot of kids are looking up to me right now. That맥스카지노�s what I맥스카지노�m thinking about. They know me, they know my parents. When they see me doing good, they맥스카지노�re going to follow.맥스카지노�Ryda Fitness takes over Lione Park on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. For more more information, follow Ryda on Instagram @rydafitness.nnaughton@stamfordadvocate.com; @noranaughton