Editor’s Note: This article is sponsored to you by Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo.
Six years ago, Mansfield resident James Davis was on the wrong side of the tracks. He went to prison for five and a half years and spent the last six months in a halfway house.
“I had run into a few addictions,” Davis said. “You know, they say that the enemies of addiction can be jails, institutions and death. I was on that verge. I ended up in jail. But prison saved my life though. It saved my life because of the lifestyle I was living.”
After getting out of prison in September, Davis came back to Mansfield, ready to turn his life around, however, the transition from prison to society was one of the biggest struggles he encountered. He still feels like he’s learning new things.
Though he was on social security disability before prison, Davis had to reapply for it and had no income at the time. Because of that, he had to get a job. Davis began work at Mansfield Engineered Components (MEC), a second chance employer. Unfortunately, Davis was still struggling with transition to society and adjusting to the work environment.
Finding an employer who understands the challenges faced by individuals with compromised backgrounds isn’t easy. MEC gave Davis an opportunity to develop skills including showing up for work, meeting production deadlines, and relationships with coworkers.
One of the greatest challenges Davis has dealt with is the “rumor mill” in the community and worksites. When others find out his history, they are not always welcoming. “I didn’t know how to handle that. Instead of just letting the words roll right off of me I kind of got into my feelings and took it personally. And so it didn’t work out very well for me,” Davis said.
MEC connected Davis with Catholic Charities 3E project and he’s been a participant in the project ever since. The 3E Project helps local employers by connecting their employees with resources and helping them maintain employment. The goal of the 3E Project is to empower, encourage and engage individuals to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and employment.
Davis got in contact with Brian Hunt, coordinator of the 3E project. Hunt worked with Davis to develop an action plan towards stability as he waited for his social security disability to come through.
Davis started slipping back into old habits and his mental health was on the decline. When Hunt noticed that Davis was starting to slide, he referred him to Catalyst Life Services. During treatment, he decided the best thing he needed to do was to focus on his mental health and treatment, so he took some time away from his job.
Davis was eventually hired on to Progress Industries at Catalyst Family Services. And fortunately, they believed in giving employees the help they needed to be mentally capable of performing their jobs. While he loved his current job, he was making a lower income compared to his previous job. During his employment at Progress Industries, the 3E Project helped Davis with rent, food and adjusting back to society.
“While Davis had some setbacks, he kept getting back up and pushing forward to meet his goals,” Hunt said. “We were able to help guide and encourage him while he put his life back together.”
“The 3E Project kept me from going back to my old behavior,” Davis said. “It kept me with just enough hope to move on to my next phase in life.”
Thanks to the 3E Project, Davis now has a huge future planned ahead of himself. He recently started online college at Colorado Tech University and wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a focus on helping youth.
“I figured if I can maybe help somebody else out that it will keep me going in a positive direction,” Davis said. “One of the principles of recovery is you want to keep what you have by giving it away. As a juvenile, I wasn’t using all that great in me. I spent a lot of time in a detention center, so I really want to work with the youth. Because if I can reach them and help them and let them know that the road that they’re on is not a promising road, then maybe I can help them turn their life around.”
Davis hopes to remain an active member of the 3E Project and keep on the right track. “The 3E Project saved my life,” Davis said. “I’m thankful. I thank them for helping me out and hope they’ll continue helping me.”
The Catholic Charities 3E Project assists employers to combat turnover and help their employees maintain their jobs. For information on the 3E Project contact Brian Hunt at Catholic Charities, 419-524-0733.
