With life comes trial, error, lessons, and hardships. Omar Aikens integrated back into society after a 15 ½ year prison sentence. Spending most of his early adult adulthood in prison, challenged Omar to take a closer look at his previous lifestyle and make some serious changes. While incarcerated Omar turned to books and decided to educate himself while coaching others. During incarceration, Omar earned numerous certifications.

Navigating back into the world through the lenses of an “honest man” Omar swore to go legitimate. Omar stood on his word and began working a 9-5 almost immediately upon his release. Omar’s first job made him lean even more towards business and he pivoted into the world of entrepreneurship. Owning his own trucking community “Tha Way Back”, a name designed to let incarcerated individuals know that there is always a way to move forward in a positive light even when the odds are stacked against you. 

Omar became a pillar of the community and turned his sights onto community service projects, hosting food drives for the homeless, back to school supplies for the youth, and the cookout for a cause. The legacy day was initially created by Omar’s mother, Delores to honor his sister, Tanika Wells, who fought fiercely against sickle cell anemia until her sunset in 2001. Upon his release, Omar reignited the day to include everyone from the community who wanted to honor their loved ones battling chronic illness as well as lost loved ones. Omar encourages the promotion of individual events for other entrepreneurs in his hometown of Trenton, NJ. 

Omar was awarded the Unsung Hero Award-John Hughes Business Award from the Men of Honor of Trenton, NJ for his Community Outreach efforts. Deciding to write his self-proclaimed life story, Omar wants his story to help others not feel defeated by their circumstances, especially those in the inner city. Operation Capital City has highlighted a series of questions for readers to answer based on their own interpretation of adverse life experiences. 

Omar speaks out about the challenges of mental health after incarceration and pushes the notion of therapy, encouraging others to seek help. Omar’s charismatic attitude, gentle approach and empathic personality is felt through all whom encounter him.

“Life is all about choices…. What will you decide next?”

- Omar Aikens