Nonprofit to send community members to Kennywood

July 24, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Starting Over Again (A Chance to Do Better), a local nonprofit organization providing re-entry services for the previously incarcerated in the Youngstown area, is taking a group of 25 people for a family day at Kennywood Amusement Park on Thursday.

The group will leave from Mount Olive FBH Church at 9:30 a.m. The organization is paying for the trip, planning to take members of Mount Olive, community members and the previously incarcerated.

Starting Over Again partners with area businesses to provide employment experience, offers mentorship opportunities, teaches financial literacy courses, assists in health care applications and provides transitional housing.

“I have a passion because I was formerly incarcerated, and you have a lot of challenges to face,” said Roy Austin, founder of the organization. “Most of the time, people want to do the right thing. I want to be a buffer, a middle ground, for them.”

Starting Over Again also will have a night of bowling at Camelot Lanes in Boardman on Aug. 24. Austin said he wanted to give area kids a night out before going back to school.

Entry for the event is $8 before the date, and $10 at the door. Participants can form teams of three to five to compete.

For information about Starting Over Again and its services, visit http://startingoveractdb.com.