Spring 2004
When he ran out of books to read in his cell he picked up a book he said changed his life forever.
"I started reading the Bible and started practicing what it said," Neal said. "I noticed changes."
Neal became involved with a prison ministry program. He said there was something different about the men who devoted their free time to volunteer at the prison.
"These men of God, men of light would stand out," Neal said.
Neal said he became a Christian, and his life changed so much that six years later, he's leading ReRoute, a nationwide outreach program for at-risk high school students. He organizes events to show underprivileged students how to make movies.
Neal said he hopes his story encourages students to attain their dreams.
From academic excellence to prison
Raised by his grandmother in inner-city Houston, Neal never met his father, and his mother died when he was three. He and his grandmother survived on Social Security and food stamps.
"I grew up impoverished, and I never even really realized it, because of the sheltered life that [my grandmother] provided for me," he said. "I grew up in the middle of the hood, in the middle of the ghetto. All I knew was her love."
Neal's grandmother emphasized academics, and schoolwork which was easy for him. But his grandmother's death before his senior year had a traumatic effect on Neal.
He started gambling and making counterfeit money to fund his hobby.
Because of his good grades, Neal was accepted to the University and received a full academic scholarship. But his time at the University would be short. In December 1995, Neal flunked out.
Neal relied on his scholarship and financial aid to support himself. When those disappeared, he began dealing drugs and running credit card scams.
"If it could turn a dollar into profit, then I was all about it," Neal said. He was arrested again in April 1996 and convicted of four felonies, including forgery, credit card fraud and burglary. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
ReRoute takes shape
Neal said he found a passion for learning after becoming a Christian. He decided to return to college and make something of himself.
Neal was released from prison on parole after two years. After a difficult first year, he was accepted to the University. He said his criminal background made help hard to find.
"I was looking for help, but nobody would help me,"he said. "When I get in a position to help people, I want to help those who want to help themselves."
Neal said getting into the University was a miracle." While at the University, he was involved in many clubs and organizations.
In May 2002, he graduated with a radio-television-film degree.
"I was definitely influenced by the media ... There weren't too many positive media outlets," Neal said. "There weren't too many people doing positive things. I want to be that person."
While he worked at KVUE, the plan for ReRoute began to take shape. The program officially started in summer 2002, and Neal resigned from the station to run the program.
Neal said he wanted to incorporate his love for making movies and film into ReRoute. He wanted to tell students they did not only have to be consumers of the media, but they could also be creators.
He partnered with Ruben Cantu, an RTF junior, and Bianca Ambriz, a UT film graduate. Together, they planned speaking events at local high schools. Their first speaking engagement was at Garza High School in East Austin, Cantu's alma mater.
"It was amazing, " said Jutta Gebauer, a career counselor at Garza High School. "I think [the students] could identify with the speakers, [that] college was in their grasp."
ReRoute is a nonprofit organization. Neal makes a living through music, another talent he said he discovered
while in prison. Neal promotes his music to companies that purchase his CDs in large quantities. He gives many away to students, though.
Last year, the University co-hosted with ReRoute "Make a Movie in a Day." The event brought in local high school students to make a documentary film of their choosing. The RTF department lent equipment to the students, and the films were shown at the Texas Union.
A former co-worker of Neal's at KVUE volunteered at the event. "It's a really positive thing. It's a glimmer of hope for kids," said Cornelius Mack, an on-air promotion manager at KVUE. "There are a lot of kids who have a creative shot, who may never get a chance to show that."
Neal now lives in Houston, where he continues his outreach efforts.