Renita Dawson, vice president of Workforce Continuing Education and Community Engagement at Wayne Community College, holds several items from the reentry kit that individuals receive when they first meet with the Reentry Council.(Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)
Everyone deserves a second chance. It’s a sentiment we’ve all heard and probably echoed. But one Wayne County agency isn’t just paying lip service to those words; it’s taking action. And there’s no better time to tell this story than now, as April has officially been declared (both statewide and federally) Second Chance Month.
From her office at Wayne Community College, Renita Dawson, vice president of Workforce Continuing Education and Community Engagement, explains the concept behind the Wayne County Reentry Council: “It’s a community effort to pull resources together to help individuals who have been justice-involved or who are coming out of jail or prison.” (“Justice-involved” refers to someone who may not have been incarcerated but was involved in the judicial system in some manner, due to a relatively minor offense.) Additionally, the reentry program is open to those who have completed treatment at a substance abuse treatment facility, such as Goldsboro’s Dart Center. The hope is that by giving these men and women a second chance, it will help lower rates of recidivism and victimization.
According to Dawson, the chief role of the Reentry Council is to “connect the dots” between individuals that need help transitioning back into the community and a number of different organizations that provide a variety of services. The organizations range from government and businesses to non-profits and other faith-based groups. Services offered include helping individuals with clothing, transportation, food, employment, education and housing.
“The biggest need and concern that individuals have, as we are meeting with them, is housing,” notes Dawson, adding that homelessness is a problem that goes beyond just those who have been justice-involved.
For a formerly incarcerated person, or someone who has been otherwise justice-involved, the process of getting help starts by going to the WCC website (www.waynecc.edu), typing “reentry” in the search box, and completing the reentry intake form. Although the person who is seeking help can take this step, it is often the case that someone else (a probation or parole officer, or even a family member or friend) refers an individual by completing the form for them.
Once the Reentry Council assesses an individual’s specific needs, they can begin connecting that person with the agencies that will best be able to assist them. Plus, help is available starting at the college. As part of the intake process, an individual is given a “reentry kit” containing resource guides and pamphlets, as well as basic items like socks, sanitizer, and food coupons or vouchers.
Those participating in the reentry program are strongly advised to take part in the college’s “Get Hired! Bootcamp,” which offers training in technology and financial literacy, and also helps participants create resumes, complete job applications and hone interview skills.
When it comes to an actual job search, the Reentry Council encourages individuals to create free online accounts with the College Central Network (accessed through the college’s website) and with Wayne County NCWorks Career Center, both of which help jobseekers and employers connect with one another. Further, the college has access to a network of employers who have expressed a willingness to hire formerly incarcerated individuals.
Of course, for someone to be successful in a job, that person must have appropriate clothes, so the college has an on-campus clothing closet and also partners with other agencies that can help.
Dawson recounts one recent success story: “We had a gentleman that we were helping, he came through our bootcamp…and he found a job, but the job required steel-toed boots. We didn’t have those in our clothing closet, so we were able to reach out to our network, someone made a donation that we were able to access, and we were able to help that individual.”
According to Dawson, Wayne County’s original reentry program fizzled out sometime around 2016 or ’17, but in 2021 Sheriff Larry Pierce spearheaded an effort to reestablish it. By April 2022, the Reentry Council was up and running, and in the year since, has helped 76 individuals throughout Wayne County.
Dawson recalls one woman who needed help finding housing in the Mount Olive area. This woman’s situation was further complicated by the fact that she was pregnant, so the Reentry Council put her in touch with various agencies that could help address all her needs.
Once individuals’ initial needs are met — employment and housing have been secured, etc. — the Reentry Council will continue to be available to them in the future if they need further assistance.
Community Resources Day Party, Wednesday, April 19
For those wanting to know more about the Wayne County Reentry Council and its partners, the Council is hosting a Community Resources Day Party, Wednesday, April 19, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Day Reporting Center parking lot at 714 Simmons Street in Goldsboro. This will be an opportunity to learn more about resources ranging from housing, mental health, and employment to financial services and education. This event is free and open to the public (many of the resources highlighted are available to all members of the public, not just those who were previously incarcerated).
More information about the Council is also available by calling Dawson at 919-739-6980, Reentry Coordinator Brandi Matthews at 919-739-6930, or Reentry Council President Nathaniel Dupree at 919-750-6477.
