Reentry Workforce Programs Are Community Builders

Reentry workforce programs do more than help individuals find jobs—they help communities grow stronger, safer, and more connected. For individuals returning from incarceration, employment is a stabilizing force. It lays the groundwork for family reunification, housing stability, and civic engagement. And when more people in a community are working, contributing, and connected to support systems, everyone benefits.

Stable employment is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce recidivism. Individuals who gain employment soon after release are significantly less likely to return to incarceration. But beyond reducing crime, steady work opens the door for people to reconnect with their communities as parents, neighbors, and contributors. These human connections are often the glue that holds a community together.

Below are stories from you, NRWC members, about how reentry workforce has made an impact in your communities:

From Hannah Smith, Exygy

In December 2023, our Growth team at Exygy partnered with CROP for a Fair Chance Hiring workshop. We showed up expecting to learn about inclusive hiring practices—and we did. But we also walked away with something much deeper: a real shift in perspective. What began as a session about equitable employment quickly became a conversation about resilience, dignity, and the brilliance that so often exists right within our communities yet remains overlooked.

That learning became action in April 2024, when we welcomed Noel Price, a CROP graduate, to our team as a Sales Development Representative. To say he hit the ground running would be an understatement. At Exygy, we build technology to remove barriers and foster healthier, more resilient communities. And bringing on team members like Noel—who carry lived experience, insight, and deep-rooted commitment to community well-being—feels like a natural (and necessary) extension of that mission. This isn’t about tokenism. It’s about ensuring the people most impacted by the challenges we’re working to solve are part of the conversation and, most importantly, part of the decision-making.

From day one, Noel brought clarity, calm, and dedication to a fast-paced role that demands both hustle and heart. Since joining, he’s helped drive over $1.2 million in submitted proposals and taught himself to build AI agents—automating parts of our proposal process and saving our team countless hours. But beyond the results, Noel shows up with grit, generosity, and a deep sense of purpose rooted in service. He reminds the Exygy community what it means to invest in tech for good and how powerful it is when someone steps into an opportunity with the full support of a community behind them.

Reentry workforce programs are doing more than building job pipelines—they’re building networks of belonging. They’re reconnecting people to opportunity, to dignity, and to each other. And I feel incredibly lucky to be a small part of that collective work.

If you want to hear the story in Noel’s own words—and trust me, you do—read his blog post: The Power of Second Chances. His voice is the one that matters most.

From Lori Stoudt, Connections Work

Harris Wilkinson’s journey is one of resilience, redemption, and the power of community. Facing hardships from an early age, his life took difficult turns, including a series of incarcerations that could have defined his future. But Harris refused to let his past be his only story. Determined to rebuild his life, he embraced change and sought a fresh start.

Harris found support through Connections Work and its “Work In Progress” workforce development program, which provided him with the tools, training, and confidence to rebuild his life. “When I first came to Connections Work, I had no ID, no Social Security card, no birth certificate—I felt like I didn’t exist. They gave me my identity back.” With our guidance and the unwavering encouragement of his family, Harris stepped into a new role that would unexpectedly transform his life: a crossing guard.

What seemed like a simple job became a meaningful calling. Every morning, Harris greets children with warmth, ensuring their safety and brightening their days. The gratitude he receives, whether in the form of a gifted pair of mittens, a hot coffee, or just a smile, reminds him that kindness is a two-way street. He has even found ways to give back, handing out hats and gloves to students in need.

In addition to landing a job he loves, Harris continues to take advantage of the services of our Digital Navigator. Harris has learned how to write and send professional emails, manage online finances, and install and manage apps on his phone. He is becoming more confident, is able to troubleshoot on his own, and feels more self-sufficient and resourceful when tackling digital challenges.

Harris’s journey hasn’t been easy—he still carries the weight of past struggles, including a brain surgery in his youth that made life more difficult—but today, he stands tall. He takes pride in the life he has built, one rooted in purpose, hard work, and connection. Every day, as he helps children safely cross the street, he knows he has also crossed into a future he once thought was out of reach.

From Jessie Ferguson, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky

Brooke endured an abusive relationship for 20 years, which resulted in her using drugs to cope. That ultimately led to her incarceration.

As she was preparing for her release, Brooke took part in a workshop for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky’s Aspire program, which provides incarcerated individuals within 90 days of release from prison with pre-release job training and supportive services. She was connected with Steven Sherwood, a Goodwill career coach, who guided her through barrier-removal services, job placement, career coaching, family reunification, and more holistic resources.

“Before meeting with Steven, I was up for parole, and I already felt defeated,” she said. “I knew what I was going back home to.”

When Brooke was released, she moved to Louisville to take part in the program. Originally from Dixon, Kentucky, which has a population of 900, she said she was scared to move but knew it was the opportunity she needed.

Brooke earned multiple professional certifications through the program, in addition to the knowledge she needed to rejoin the workforce. She was hired at the Northfield Goodwill store in Louisville, and after just six weeks, she was promoted to team lead. She recently accepted another promotion as a Goodwill career coach, which will allow her to help others who have similar challenges.

“It’s such a blessing to be able to pay it forward,” she said. “I know there are people out there just like me who feel like there’s no way out and want change so badly, but they don’t know where to get it. Aspire helped me overcome that, and I want to pay that forward.”

Brooke said she wouldn’t be where she is today without Steven, Chad Vaughn (senior store manager), and Ronrico Williams (career coach for the Northfield store).

“For the first time in my life, I feel like somebody has listened to me and helped me set goals and have been there with me, working toward them,” she said. “I just hope that I am able to do that for others.”