People in the state prison system are provided many opportunities for improving education and job skills during their incarceration. Taking advantage of those opportunities leads to second chances.
For Samuel Hutchins and Arkeem Shields, their second chances came with the assistance of the Pathway Home 5 Program – part of the Opportunities Industrialization Center in Rocky Mount.
Pathway Home 5 was launched in 2024 under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It funds organizations — like OIC of Rocky Mount — to deliver workforce and reentry services to people within 20 to 270 days of their scheduled release. The goal is to ensure participants leave incarceration already connected to employment pathways and community resources.
“We want to provide motivation and hope,” said Terry Ruffin, the case manager/recruiter and community engagement specialist at Pathway Home 5. “This will help people have something to come home to. I understand the barriers because I was a justice involved person. Most incarcerated men and women don’t know what a barrier is. A barrier is what keeps them going back and forth to prison.
“If you target the barrier, you can create a success story. And this is what this is.”
Here’s how the program works:
• Pre-release phase: Participants receive job-readiness training, career counseling, and help obtain identification and credentials.
• Post-release phase: They continue skill-building through apprenticeships, occupational training, and job placement in high-demand industries.
• Employer partnerships: Grantees collaborate with local businesses to align training with real job openings, creating direct pipelines to employment.
Hutchins (photo on the right) enrolled in the program in June 2025, during his time at Nash Correctional Institution. For 15 years he honed his skills and learned about working in a plant at the Correction Enterprises Optical Plant. Upon his release in Aug. 2025, he transitioned into a supportive environment at a transitional home in Rocky Mount through the NEW Reentry Council — a vital partner providing reentry services as part of Pathway Home 5’s support network.
From the start, Hutchins demonstrated eagerness and determination to build a stable future. His journey began with the Job Readiness course at OIC, where he gained essential skills for workplace success. Shortly after, he enrolled in the Forklift Training Program, aiming to earn a recognized credential to enhance his employability.
While preparing for forklift certification, Hutchins secured full-time employment at Burger King in Rocky Mount. His commitment to both work and training is impressive, as well as how he gets to and from where he needs to go – he rides his bike at all hours to get whatever he has to go. With collaborative scheduling adjustments, he successfully completed his forklift certification.
Today, Hutchins is thriving — working full-time, maintaining stability, and planning to advance his career by leveraging his North Carolina-recognized credential.
“I didn’t know the opportunities I could have until I was incarcerated, “Hutchins said. “I was blinded by my thoughts and realized all the things I gave up in my past. I convinced myself that that’s not the lifestyle I want.”
Shields (photo on the left) enrolled in the Pathway Home 5 Program while incarcerated at Nash CI in Aug. 2025, From the very beginning, he demonstrated a strong commitment to his future. Upon his release that December, he continued to display determination and accountability by attending all scheduled appointments and completing the required assessments to move forward in his reentry process.
Shields’ primary goal was clear: gain job readiness skills, complete quick training, and secure employment. He exceeded expectations every step of the way. In January, he successfully completed his Job Readiness course at OIC of Rocky Mount, equipping him with essential skills for the workforce. Just days later, he pursued forklift training at the Tarboro campus of Edgecombe Community College and earned his North Carolina-recognized Forklift Driver Certification.
With these accomplishments, Shields is now prepared for the next phase — job placement. His journey reflects responsibility, perseverance, and a commitment to building a stable future.
“We provided Arkeem the soft skills he needed succeed,” Ruffin said. “We don’t work on just getting someone a job; we focus on education and training. And we couldn’t do this without the support of NCDAC and the dedicated staff at Nash CI. Their partnership helps us fight recidivism and create opportunities to residents to thrive.”