Reflections of Success

“If it wasn’t for those who understood the difficulty of finding work after getting out of prison, I don’t know where I’d be. I’m truly grateful for everything the Orion Watch: Community Outreach Program is doing. They advocate for hiring practices that put formerly incarcerated individuals into meaningful jobs.”

— Michael Edwards, Incarcerated for 7 years

“When I was in prison I attended building maintenance and welding classes. I soon discovered that most classes were brief and just covered the basics. After being released I didn’t have the skills I needed to transition to a career with decent pay like a trade. This is why I support everything Orion Watch is doing. Like others, I believe there is a small window of opportunity for most inmates after they are released to get them on the right track, and I know Orion Watch can make a difference.”

— Christopher Blagg, Incarcerated for 14 years

Transitioning from life in prison is difficult, and succeeding when you also have health issues feels impossible. Thankfully I’ve done it and I’m succeeding. I legitimately believed prison saved my life. Orion Watch: Community Outreach Programs truly understands the short window of time where success and failure is determined. They have the credibility and potential to reach a lot of men and women that have fallen.

— Job Edwards, Sentenced to 18 years

I still struggle when interacting with society and daily life. There are so many incarcerated people I’ve met who want to do better, yet without direction they won’t because they don’t have the resources to succeed.

This is the value of Orion Watch: Community Outreach Programs. They are not only committed to providing the trade schooling for incarcerated individuals, but also the follow-up assistance outside of the prison environment. These are services that will determine whether someone succeeds or heads back through the revolving door of the justice system.

— John Grantham, Incarcerated for 10+ years

I think most incarcerated individuals want to succeed but have no real idea how. Orion Watch: Community Outreach Program is focused on giving the tools necessary for people being released from prison to create their own success.

— Solomon Tucker, Incarcerated for 11 years

When we are released from prison, it’s a challenge to get back on our feet because of all of the obstacles we have to face. Having a group specifically dedicated to helping former inmates obtain jobs is what is needed for them to stop falling back into old crowds and patterns. I’ve seen too many friends get released and go right back to the same life because they could not obtain a career-worthy job. This is why I stand behind OW:COP, because the plan they have will help formerly incarcerated individuals stay out of prison.

— Danny J. Norman, Incarcerated for 5 years

When I was released in 2017, after finding some trouble I reached out to my family who put me on a path towards success. I’m fortunate to have that kind of support, but know there are many hardworking people with potential who will fall between the cracks and end up back inside because they couldn’t meet their essential needs like housing, food, and transportation. I fully support OW:COP and their drive to give people a clear path to success.

— Cale Harpel, Formerly Incarcerated