The goal of the Rock City Reentry Program’s Pathway Home 3 initiative is to have 100 participants benefit from Reentry programming services as well as the Future Fit program (or another similar accredited program) while incarcerated at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.
The Future Fit program was developed by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission in partnership with local manufacturers. Future Fit equips participants with skills such as understanding blueprints, machine operations, safety and OSHA certifications and interpersonal skills. Certification is received before release which allows each participant to easily apply for local jobs with skills and certification that will increase employability.
Two success stories highlight the impact that Pathway Home 3 and Future Fit have had during 2023.
Joshua Stockton achieved success through hard work, wise decision-making and active participation in multiple programs while incarcerated at the Pulaski County Detention Center. After completing the CSI Program and Future Fit program, earning a certificate in advanced manufacturing, Joshua was released from the Pulaski County Detention facility on August 8, 2023. Twenty-four days later Joshua was employed full-time at BR McGinty’s Plumbing, Heating and Air as a HVAC Technician. He received a starting salary of $19 per hour followed by a $1 per hour raise after 19 days on the job, making his total earnings a total of $20 per hour.
Justin Scott enrolled in Rock City Reentry on April 17, 2023. By June 22, 2023, Mr. Scott completed the Future Fit training and officially received his training credential. He was released from incarceration on July 14, 2023, to transitional housing at Wolfe Street Foundation. Mr. Scott has prior charges of aggravated assault and residential burglary but is now leading by example to help others as the co-chairman of Wolfe Streets’ Breaking the Cycle Program. Mr. Scott is also now employed at Edwards Cash Savers in Little Rock as the frozen foods manager with a salary of $28,080. He plans to utilize his Future Fit training and search for manufacturing employment after the holidays. He had this to say about the Rock City Reentry Program:
“Rock City Reentry program has helped to provide me with the resources to be a responsible and productive member of society. The program has given me tremendous support in my endeavors thus far that will continue for a lifetime. My life has purpose again and is filled with happiness and peace. I am seeing how good recovery is again because I had a period of ten years of sobriety previously but had fell back in my old ways. I have almost 8 ½ months sober and I feel great about life. I began my solid foundation of recovery in the CSI program in the Pulaski County Jail where I was incarcerated for 5 months and then was released to my powerful support with the Rock City Reentry program, that is like a family to me. Rock City has helped show me that life is good and fun to live.”
