From its start in 2008 to now, strides are being made within the Halifax County Reentry Council, said its Vice Chair Prince Williams.
One of its most visible successes occurred during the Roanoke Rapids Resource Fair held last week at the House of Mandate in the 300 block of Roanoke Avenue.
“From the job fair, the companies that were there, one was in a major need of filling positions,” Williams said at the church this week. “When she left there those positions were filled.
We were so pleased to hear that.”
Others attending the fair went for interviews that night with another company.
Contributed photos by House of Mandate:
“We want the people to understand,” Williams, who is the business engagement coordinator for the Turning Point Workforce Development Board, said. “We don’t know what happened since the pandemic hit. It’s like everybody said ‘I don’t have to work now’ but the companies need you and you need the companies. We need our community to grow. If we don’t get you back in employment we’re going to lose what we have now. Everything is based on going back to work. If we put our community back to work, that’s going to get you off the street, that’s going to make your family self-sufficient, it’s going to make you a better citizen for North Carolina.”
Orin Perry, pastor of the House of Mandate and chair of the council, believes the church fits in with the reentry efforts. “The church is a melting pot for the community. I think the church can help support the community in that initiative — not only with the homeless crisis but this workforce movement. It’s mindblowing. I’m excited.”
Williams said funds will be available in the new fiscal year to help people with transportation and to help people trying to find a job. “We’re not going to talk at you, we’re going to show you what can be done if you’re willing to accept the hand.”
Another major initiative is the law literacy scholarship. “It’s going to be faith-based led and it’s hopefully going to be 4-H-led.”
It is a 90-day course that covers the 100 laws that are normally broken that get people incarcerated.
One person, a 21-year-old man in Halifax County, has just completed the course, Williams said. “He is going to be the forerunner for the state of North Carolina.”
By taking and completing the course the man opens himself up to job opportunities, she said. When the reentry council first started companies were limited in who they could hire. “Between the reentry population and our faith-based organizations, we are trying to bring those two together, giving them information that is needed and letting them know that, yes, they made a mistake but don’t hold them to that mistake for the rest of their life.”
Said Williams: “Actually, your workforce, because of shortages, is behind bars. So if you’re not willing to give them an opportunity we are always going to have a shortage. We don’t realize right now those incarcerated right now are welders, they’re forklift operators, skilled laborers, electricians, management. It’s not limited to just one position.”
