Job fair helps those recently incarcerated get needed resources

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Wednesday, the “Building Bridges to a Brighter Future” job fair and conference took place at Helm’s College.

The goal is to connect those who were recently incarcerated or on parole to needed resources.

Tables and a large room looked to lend a helping hand to those in need and get them employed, able to vote and equipped with other resources.

Charlotte Garnes, founder of Reinforced, made this possible.

“Bring everyone together on one accord to be able to and learn best practices to working with individuals for justice impacted,” said Garnes.

Garnes knows what it’s like to experience not knowing where the resources are because she was incarcerated, too.

“It was literally stepping past those prison gates and those prison walls to know I’m having to redo this and do this on my own. So, for me, I want to be able to individuals who are justice impacted in CSRA region,” said Garnes.

This event gave those a chance to get opportunities to those who once thought most of their life would be behind bars, but now have a second chance.

Christopher Willars said: “Once time is gone, you can’t get back, there’s no reset.”

Willars was sentence for theft and released after 16 years. Now, he looks to make the most of his life and encourage others.

“You can come home and be successful. You can literally pick up the pen and write pages of your own story. You want to control it and as long as you have another day another chance and actually another day another chance to get it right,” said Willars.

Randy Barrs, who works with Worksource Georgia, knows it isn’t that easy.

“I’ve seen so many individuals I’ve approached, have conversations where they say they think about doing things to get back to the judicial system, that’s just not a good way to live,” said Barrs.

So he works to get those back on their feet.

“A lot of bonding and partnerships being formed today,” said Barrs.

The organizers said Wednesday was a step in the right direction and they’ll look to do more moving forward.

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