COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hundreds of Ohioans are getting a fresh start thanks to the National Returning Citizen Conference that gets underway in Columbus on Thursday.
It’s an opportunity for people who used to be incarcerated to share their stories and find support as they reenter society.
What You Need To Know
- The National Returning Citizen Conference in Columbus is a chance for people who used to be incarcerated to share their stories and find support as they reenter society
- The Center for Employment Opportunities in Columbus is among those programs taking part in the conference
- The Center for Employment Opportunities helps former inmates not only find employment but also give back through city cleanup projects
The Center for Employment Opportunities in Columbus is among those programs taking part in the conference.
The organization helps former inmates not only find employment but also give back through city cleanup projects.
Will McKee joined the organization after serving nearly 30 years behind bars.
“During my incarceration, I lost my mother. I also have, you know, children and grandchildren out there. I want to be a role model for them. I don't want them to just fall into the same things that I did," McKee said.
Upon his release in 2024, McKee became so invested in the center’s mission that he advanced to site supervisor for one of its cleanup groups.
But Center for Employment Opportunities is not just about cleaning up.
Site director Seth VanHorn says it’s also about giving second chances.
“Our ultimate goal is for them to find a permanent job that is sustainable and can help them be self-sufficient and meet their career goals,” He said.
And McKee says he’ll never take it for granted, making the most of every opportunity.
“You can get out and have a good, positive mindset,” he said, “and if you really put in the work to do it, you can actually do it.”
