Partnership formed to help former convicts get education opportunities

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

United Returning Citizens Inc., 618 Mistletoe Ave., a local organization dedicated to assisting formerly incarcerated people become full and productive members of the community, will partner with Eastern Gateway Community College and Ohio Higher Education Partners to increase educational opportunities.

“For many of our most-successful members, we have found that opportunities for higher education have been the key factor in not only reducing recidivism, but in increasing gainful employment and overall life satisfaction,” said Wayne Huggins, URC executive director.

By providing mentoring and support to new and continuing students through the URC Returning Citizens Education Program, the group hopes to encourage those who have made mistakes in the past to overcome those obstacles by looking to the future.

“Getting a college degree has made all the difference in my life,” says URC member Tina Cvetkovich. “By making the decision to get a higher education, I not only have a phenomenal network and a promising future, but I know that without it, I would not be where I am today.”

Mentors for the Returning Citizens Education program will be selected based on their educational qualifications and life experience.

URC encourages formerly incarcerated people who have successfully turned their life around to become mentors and recruiters for the program. Training and ongoing support will be provided to ensure the success of students and mentors alike.

“We believe that everyone is an expert on their own experience,” Huggins said. “Those who are most able to help returning citizens are those who have experienced that system first-hand. We want to encourage formerly incarcerated people who have overcome those barriers to give back by becoming part of the solution.”

The URC Returning Citizens Education Program will begin accepting students this spring for enrollment in the fall semester at EGCC.

For information about enrolling in the program or becoming a mentor, contact United Returning Citizens at urccoalition@gmail.com or call 330-402-9573.