Wayne County Judge-Executive Mike Anderson (left) and Cumberlands Workforce Development Board (CWDB) Chairman Sam Brown recently signed an agreement for Wayne County Detention Center's participation in the Pre-Release Employment Program.
Wayne County joins Russell and Pulaski counties in the regional effort to create pathways for inmates and low-income individuals to rebuild their lives by equipping them with knowledge and skills to gain employment and become successful members of the communities in which they live.
Working with dozens of community organizations and employers in a growing number of counties in the Cumberlands Workforce Development Area, the CWDB is leading the effort to knock down barriers that often block a person's successful reentry into their community. Barriers such as housing, food, transportation, documentation, and more.
At this week's Cumberlands Workforce Development Board meeting, a number of former inmates and representatives from regional businesses and support organizations provided success stories.
Learn more about this program.
The February 18th Cumberlands Workforce Development Board of Directors meeting was standing room only with a variety of board members and guests sharing their stories about the growth and success of the pre-release programs that regional jails are providing to inmates to prepare them for successful reentry into their communities.
Aaron Poynter - Bennett's Carpets Human Resource & Communications
Eliezer Mendez III - Resource Assistant with the Career Team office in Bowling Green
Bobby Dunbar - Russell County Jailer, Russell County Detention Center
Anthony McCollum - Pulaski County Jailer, Pulaski County Detention Center & Christina Norris
Michelle Alley - Re-Entry Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Corrections
Samantha Shepherd - Division of Re-Entry Services, Kentucky Department of Corrections
Becky Wilson - Regional Manager Career Services, Goodwill Expungement
Alesa Johnson - VP of Workforce Solutions, Somerset Community College
Kevin Shearer - Russell County Attorney