(Newswire.net — October 3, 2014) Buford, GA — Georgia CALLS, Georgia Center For Abundant Living Life Skills, a unique 501(c)3 non-profit helping high-risk, returning citizens make a successful transition from incarceration back into society as business entrepreneurs, has officially launched its pilot site in Buford, GA. To date, dozens of referrals to the program have been received for consideration.
In a ribbon cutting ceremony held on September 12th outside of the new facility, Georgia CALLS announced its partnership with the Governor’s Office of Transition, Support and Reentry (GOTSR), the Georgia Department of Corrections, and Phillips Transitional Center. Members from the partnering organizations, including Renee Snead, Administrator of the GOTSR and James Payne, Superintendent of Phillips Transitional Center, celebrated along with the staff and leadership of Georgia CALLS in a historic effort to change the way supervised individuals are reintegrated into the community.
“The interesting thing about Georgia CALLS is that they not only have a wonderful model, but they have the ability and the capacity to implement that model well,” commented Administrator Snead, GOTSR.
In support of The Georgia Prisoner Reentry Initiative (GA-PRI), Georgia CALLS has already received dozens of referrals from several government agencies. The pilot program is in high demand and very intentional with the selection process. Every individual is thoroughly evaluated during intake. As a result, Georgia CALLS will employ 25 highly motivated individuals to not only become the CEOs of their lives, but also of their own businesses.
Jay Reeder, Executive Director of Georgia CALLS presented his vision for the organization and the staff led 40 attendees on a tour of the newly built-out call center and training center. The facility features purposefully decorated and designed rooms such as the “Learning Lab” and “Kickstart Corner” that have been intentionally designed to increase creativity and encourage hopeful, positive thinking. Motivational quotes adorn the walls in each room, encouraging the participants as they grow along with the organization in their tenure at Georgia CALLS.
“To meet someone where they’re at in life, on a case by case basis, and provide that bridge in the gaps that are in their present lives is so important,” explained Superintendent Payne.
During the first year of this elite program, Georgia CALLS will provide social services, which includes intensive case management and the implementation of TAP strategies; unrivaled and newly-developed job/life skills training; paid work experience at its inbound call center, created specifically for this initiative; and optional spiritual development to returning citizens who are seeking a life change.
According to Reeder, “The goal of Georgia CALLS’ reentry initiative is to make a direct community impact by transforming mindsets, growing leaders, and building entrepreneurs up, one life at a time. Through a participatory and holistic approach, Georgia CALLS will reduce recidivism and boost economic growth.”
The Buford facility was intentionally designed as a small pilot site to launch, test, and prove the Georgia CALLS program. Once a favorable outcome is achieved, Georgia CALLS will expand into a much larger operation to serve as many individuals in need as possible.
Reeder continued, “Georgia has a high recidivism rate, and part of the reason is because we’re not changing deeply-ingrained beliefs and world views. At Georgia CALLS, we’re not just training people for jobs — we’ve intentionally created jobs so we can train individuals to see the world anew and create their own blueprint for success.”
To view a video recap of the Georgia CALLS Grand Opening Ceremony, visit http://www.gacalls.org/video-recap-georgia-calls-launches-hosts-grand-opening-ceremony-reentry-program/.
About Georgia CALLS
Located in Buford, GA, Georgia CALLS, Georgia Center For Abundant Living Life Skills, is a 501(c)3 organization created to ease the transition from incarceration back into a productive, healthy routine in the community. This unique reentry initiative is a pioneering collaboration between non-profit, for profit and government entities working together for the common good of society. Georgia CALLS, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Transition, Support & Reentry, Georgia Department of Corrections, and Phillips Transitional Center, is transforming mindsets, growing leaders & building entrepreneurs up, one life at a time. Utilizing a powerful combination of exclusive job/life skills training, paid work experience in the call center, intensive case management services, and optional discipleship classes, participants in the Georgia CALLS program learn to build strong character, explore their own entrepreneurial desires, and in turn give back to their own communities. Georgia CALLS works to make a last community impact by cultivating entrepreneurs and mentoring participants to be the CEOs of their lives.