SCC wins Workforce Development award from Community Colleges of Appalachia

Published on Apr 6, 2023

Recognized for community engagement through partnership with reentry training program for inmates

Somerset Community College (SCC) is recognized as the 2023 Workforce Development Award recipient issued by Community Colleges of Appalachia (CCA), an association of nearly 100 colleges in 13 Appalachian states from New York to Mississippi. 

SCC won CCA's 2023 Workforce Development Award for their “CRITICAL: Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Inmates: Transforming Individuals, Community, and Livelihoods” program. The program was one of 13 outstanding nominations and the award will be presented during the 30th Annual CCA Conference in Asheville, NC in June.

“We (representatives of the seven partners) came together in 2019 to discuss what could be done to increase the workforce participation rate with the skilled labor needed by our local business and industry, reduce the overall recidivism rates in our community, and fundamentally transform lives of the justice-involved population,” said Alesa Johnson, vice president of Workforce Development. “After extensive research into similar programs nationwide, community-wide forums and presentations, and discussions with multiple agencies, this team developed a comprehensive plan, known as CRITICAL. We held our first pilot class in fall 2021.”

CRITICAL is a joint initiative between the Cumberlands Workforce Board, Goodwill Industries, Lake Cumberland Area Development District (LCADD), Pulaski County Detention Center, Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority, SCC, and Hendrickson.

Inmates are selected by the Jailer based upon a set criteria. The selected inmates attend soft-skills training, resume' writing class, and participate in mock interviews, provided by Goodwill Industries. Goodwill also provides them with the required personal protective equipment for the welding class and clothing for their interviews. LCADD, the Cumberlands Workforce Board pays for their tuition, helps them obtain their ID, and find jobs upon being released. The Jail provides the inmates transportation to and from their welding classes held at Somerset Community College.

At the end of the eight weeks, students earn their Welder Helper Credential, 2G and 3G national welding certifications, and a forklift certification. On their final day of class, the inmates interview with local companies for jobs, either as a welder or production line worker, attend a special graduation ceremony where SCC's President and VP of Academic Affairs award their certificates, followed by a dinner and photo session to celebrate their accomplishment. 

Since the start of the program, SCC has graduated 24 students and successfully had four cohorts under this model. 

SCC’s CRITICAL program and the collective partnership are a major resource for its entire region, creating new career opportunities for students and training needed to help create a better life.