Hope Conference gives citizens another chance

By Bruce Walton

bwalton@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Second chances are hard to come by when things go wrong, but many in the Youngstown community believe that a second chance should be something everyone deserves to improve their lives.

Guy Burney, director of Community Initiative to Reduce Violence, welcomed people Friday to the third annual Hope Conference in Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University.

CIRV, a partnership of law enforcement and social-service agencies, hosted the conference with more than 40 tables representing various vendors, organizations and agencies for employment, finances, health and many other services. Members of every part of the community attended, from the justice system and law enforcement to employment agencies and health centers.

All gave information about the services available to people released from prison and others getting through hard times. Burney said the conference engages the community with the opportunity for people whose lives have taken a terrible turn to get back on track.

“A lot of people have backgrounds where they made bad choices, but they’re coming back to our community, and we want to make sure that we let them know that there is support,” Burney said. “We want to let them know that they can have hope and that there’s a lot of people here that are willing to give you a lot of assistance if you’re willing to put the work in.”

William Smith III, 44, of Youngstown, came to the conference to find work where he could, after being released in October after serving two years on a drug-trafficking offense. Smith said he feels grateful for receiving a second chance and that the notion is being encouraged by the community.

“It seems like they’re really coming together to help people, they’re not pushing people away,” he said. “They’re opening doors up to help people get back in their communities and get back on the job force out there.”

The conference, Burney added, also offers the convenience for people looking for all these services to be in one place. Shanise McGeorge, 28, of Youngstown, who came to the conference for a number of services, said it’d be a lot more difficult if they weren’t all in one place.

Burney added that the most-important things people can do are making connections and networking.

Information and resources are available for those who missed the conference; call the CIRV office at 330-742-8779.