On March 31, 2022, NCWorks Career Center-Cabarrus and partners held a reentry event designed to simulate one month in the life of someone who has just been released from prison, navigating their way through the system while trying to comply with all the requirements of supervised release. This event provided an opportunity for over 70 individuals associated with our service providers, non-profits, government, health and human services and workforce partners to experience the barriers one faces when getting reestablished after returning from incarceration, treatment and/or homelessness.
The simulation helped increase awareness and empathy regarding the reentry process and the need for more creative solutions for those impacted. It was an insightful experience for those that attended; participants looked at the challenges and hardships faced by an offender when returning home and trying to assimilate back into the community.
Following the simulation, partners Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the Project Safe Cabarrus initiative, Opportunity House and the U.S. Attorneyâs Office for the Middle District of North Carolina were brought together by NCWorks Career Center-Cabarrus to discuss lessons learned and how they can work together to address the needs and challenges in Cabarrus County. NCWorks Career Center-Cabarrus also organized two additional events, the Cabarrus Reentry Alliance kickoff meeting, which gathered partners and employers who touch the lives of those returning from incarceration, treatment and homelessness, and the Second Chance Career Fair to help justice-involved individuals polish their interview skills and resumes.
