Years ago Jim and I wrote a book on generosity. It began with the classic Starfish Story. You know the one–there are thousands of starfish on the beach dying in the sun and a fellow comes along throwing as many as possible back into the ocean. Another man, walking the beach says to him, “What’s the point? You can’t possibly save them all.” As he launches another starfish toward the water, the fellow replies, “no, but I saved that one.”
If a starfish is important, how much more is a man or woman? We have 12,000 folks who have served prison or long term jail sentences that are released into Central Indiana every year. When they come out, there is often little to greet them. Immediately they have bills to pay. For many that includes court-mandated fines and ankle bracelet costs. For almost all of them, there is rent to pay, transportation to secure, food to buy.
Early in this effort, UNITE INDY’s staff realized that without a job, most will face disappointment and many will end up back in prison. In or out, in many ways, their prison sentence never ends. Imagine the task of going from employer to employer to find one that would employ someone who had served time? Imagine the task of keeping a job when you may never have had one before, Or even seen a parent go to work every day?
In certain high poverty areas, there is an overabundance of former felons, men and women who have served their sentences, but cannot find work—or don’t know how to keep a good job. Often, their children and other dependents suffer lifelong shortages of opportunity, affecting education, health and food availability. So first, we built SecondChanceIndy.com, a website where those released from incarceration can go find jobs—just for them. They can locate transportation availability, see what the job pays, and other information. Then they can apply right online. The idea is to move through the ABCs: Any job, a Better job, a Career.
But being qualified doesn’t always mean a person can keep a job. There is a prison mentality that many take into the work place that often ends in conflict. Keeping a job becomes a barrier even more difficult than finding one. It seems hopeless, but it is not.
We are now in the midst of our first Jobs For Life class, attended by those who have been released and are jobless and looking for employment. The course is taught around the world in more than 300 cities, and it works. This class happens to be men, and each of them had the chance last night to tell their story. Why they were there, how they had changed, and what they wanted for the rest of their lives.
Our volunteers are walking one-on-one with them, sharing their lives and tears. It is a process. One of the men told a story of grief. He now just wants his son to be proud of him. We want that too. With job training, and the employers on SecondChanceIndy.com, we’ll have the firepower to help him find a job so he can support his family, and rebuild his relationships. He will not be alone in this effort. One man. One Starfish.
We think he’s worth the effort and hope you do too.
Nancy
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