By Matthew Estes, Communications Director
Uniontown, Ala. – Dozens of justice-involved individuals got a step up in their careers on Thursday, September 19 at the Perry County PREP Center, which provides reentry and rehabilitation services for probationers and parolees statewide.
“Jobs are a crucial component to successful reentry,” said Bureau Director Cam Ward. “If someone recovers from their underlying mental diagnosis or substance use problem, they need stable employment. Data shows good employment greatly reduces the possibility of someone reoffending. I am thankful for all the public and private stakeholders who have partnered with us on this effort.”
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles partnered with J.F. Ingram State Technical College, Alabama Power, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, and the Alabama Community College System to host a successful resource fair for probationers, parolees, ISTC students and nearby justice-involved individuals. The event served as a productive way to connect participants with job creators and companies offering career opportunities.
This effort assists in our collective interests to reduce state recidivism and increase Alabama’s workforce participation. PREP participants are highly employable through the myriad of technical skills and certificates obtained through ISTC’s educational opportunities. During the event, employers statewide met with participants to discuss career opportunities, interview, and even offer immediate job placement.
The event began with a stakeholder presentation featuring District 24 Senator Bobby Singleton, District 22 Senator Greg Albritton, Field Representative Kelli Wolfe on behalf of U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, and Black Belt Outreach Coordinator Byron Evans on behalf of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell. In addition, the audience heard from ISTC President Annette Funderburk, ACCS Vice Chancellor of Adult Education David Walters, Alabama Power’s Vice President of Workforce Development Jerry Grissom and Workforce Development Coordinator Jason Watters, Bureau Director Cam Ward, and business leaders. A highlight of the presentation was the testimony of PREP participant Joseph Goodwin, who graduated from the program on Friday.
This dream is becoming a continuing reality to reduce recidivism — to increase our participation rate, said Alabama Power Workforce Development Coordinator Jason Watters. “We’re doing that one person at a time.”
Following the presentations, the audience and elected officials were given a tour of the Alabama Experience, or ALEX. This is a mobile exhibit featuring a collection of interactive kiosks and informational pieces, as well as a knowledgeable staff who walk visitors through every aspect of life in Alabama. This workforce development tool allows people to be introduced to building trades, learn about educational opportunities, interact with local employers, and connect to thriving careers in the state. Those interested in finding work are matched to specific industries and introduced electronically to the proper representatives.
Interested parties were also given a tour of ISTC’s mobile classroom, an important new resource expanding educational opportunities for participants. In April, the Bureau and partners held a successful ALEX Activation event at the Huntsville Day Reporting Center, where more than 100 participants got a step up in their career by attending. Learn more about ALEX here.
The Bureau thanks J.F. Ingram State Technical College, the Alabama Community College System, Alabama Power, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, as well as the many employers who attended the event, for their partnership in this program and looks forward to future resource fairs and partnerships with ALEX.
