Public event this week

Expanding Justice; New Initiatives in Hamilton County

CALEB welcomes Project Return Thursday, October 28th at 5:00 PM EST to an event which the public is encouraged to attend. The event will play host to an open conversation regarding Project Return’s successful reentry model and how the community can better support and welcome those who were formerly incarcerated back into the community.

Project Return, which was founded in 1979 by two Nashville based reverends, Bill Barnes and Don Beisswenger, aims to aid those in reentry with the overwhelming obstacles between leaving prison and returning into the community. They have launched several groundbreaking programs in the field of reentry, such as Project Return Opportunities for Employment (PROe). This program provides those in reentry to develop work experience, while building a reference base and demonstrating reliability on the job. The program provides resources such as transportation, food bags and work supplies as well as other tools to help foster success in the workforce.

The program launched in 2013 and has successfully placed 1,477 people in reentry into the
workforce. In addition, Project Return also helps those in reentry find housing through their
Project Return Opportunities for Housing program (PROh), which has acquired and rehabbed 25 homes since 2017. The program acts as a private rental market system and works with the PROe program to put those in reentry in work restoring houses that are then rented out to those in reentry.

Through these programs and their work with other programs, Project Return has been able to put over 80% of those in the program into employment. In addition, recidivism rates for those in the program sits at an astonishing 15% compared to a national average of 50%. In keeping with their core tenants of prison in-reach, workforce development and employment opportunity, Project Return has become a staple of the Nashville community as a beacon of light for those in reentry.

CALEB is proud and excited to host the virtual event, which will foster a valuable and constructive dialogue on the obstacles to reentry in the community and how both groups are working to support and aid the people being welcomed back into the community.

Where: Virtual Zoom event
When: Thursday, Oct. 28th, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST

Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vc-morjooE9NmdQSxgAbRiTx217MguQdC

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.