Amidst the rhythm of residential life in Waterbury stands a beacon of hope and transformation: the Community Partners in Action (CPA) Greater Waterbury Reentry Welcome Center. Since its establishment in December 2021, the Center has served nearly 500 individuals returning to the community from incarceration, offering vital support to those in need.
At the Reentry Welcome Center, individuals recently released from incarceration discover not just assistance, but a pathway to community connection and personal fulfillment. From the essential lifelines of clothing and bus passes to the invaluable support of job training programs, the Center ensures that no one travels this journey alone.
Beyond meeting people’s basic needs, the Center offers —opportunity. Through a range of programs, participants are equipped with the skills and confidence needed to rebuild their lives, from refining their resumes to mastering the art of the job interview. Each step taken within the walls of the Center is a step toward a brighter tomorrow.
A recent $10,000 grant from Connecticut Community Foundation amplifies the Center’s ability to empower individuals and foster positive change.
Among the many success stories at the Center, one shines particularly brightly: the journey of Dreyquan Jiles. Released to a halfway house in June of last year, Mr. Jiles found challenges in strict schedules, close restrictions, and the behavior of some of his fellow parolees. As he shares, “It’s hard to stay away from all the negativity, you know, because you want to do good, but it’s just so much negativity around you. But you just got to stay focused and remember the goals that you set for yourself.” Mr. Jiles pressed onward, securing two jobs, pursuing his passion for culinary arts, completing his studies and preparing to graduate in May of this year.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Jiles’ voice resounds with gratitude and determination: “Recently they (CPA) gave me a scholarship [in the name of Gordon Bates, CPA’s former executive director], and I was able to pay off the rest of my student loans for culinary school, and that was one of the biggest moments I’ve had since my release.”
With a gleam of optimism in his eyes, Mr. Jiles adds, “From day one, when I first met the staff here at the Waterbury Reentry Center, they were polite and respectful. They didn’t judge me and they listened to what I had to say; they empathized with me, and they were helpful. The Center didn’t just give me resources; they gave me belief. Belief in myself and in the possibility of a better future.”
For Mr. Jiles, the journey was more than just a personal triumph; it was a testament to the transformative power of community. As he stands on the threshold of a new chapter in his life, he embraces a future brimming with possibility, knowing that behind him stands the Community Partners in Action Reentry Welcome Center—a testament to the enduring power of second chances.
