Dr. Sarah Scarbrough

Founder and Director

Dr. Sarah Scarbrough is the founder and director of REAL LIFE. Through her 10 years of work in the Richmond City Justice Center (jail), she witnessed the obstacles and hurdles that those exiting incarceration faced. For the first five years at RCJC, she conducted her dissertation research to determine the effectiveness of programming for those inside the jail. For the last five years, she was the Program Director, during which she established the REAL Program. In 2017, she founded REAL LIFE in the community, in order to respond to the many needs those releasing from the RCJC faced. REAL LIFE quickly began to grow in order to more comprehensively address the needs of those not only from the REAL Program, but also those throughout Virginia who sought services. Serving hundreds of clients a year, REAL LIFE has continued to grow and expand. Dr. Scarbrough has received several awards and recognitions for the impact her work has had on the community. She was named a “Hometown Hero” by Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen. In 2018, Dr. Scarbrough was one of the People of the Year honorees from the Richmond Times Dispatch. She was awarded the Edward Peoples Award for Social Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 in Richmond, VA. Dr. Scarbrough received her PhD and Master’s from Virginia Commonwealth University and Bachelor’s Degree from UVA Wise. When not working, she stays busy with her three children and husband.