WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - From active gang leader to professional pastry chef, baker, and self proclaimed “hope dealer,” one man behind the counter at Reverie Roasters is making a difference in his community by partnering the shop with the nonprofit that not only saved his life, but the nonprofit he now pours so much of his time into.

Cookies by the dozen are on sale right now to fund the mission of saving people from gang violence, homelessness, and addiction.

“It’s actually somebody believing in you, somebody actually speaking to you, that made a difference. And that’s what Hope 4 Da Hood is, we’re hope dealers,” said Peazy Villarreal, a baker/pastry chef at Reverie and former gang member.

Villarreal is open about his dark past.

“I was in a penitentiary locked up for nearly 20 years,

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