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Fathers Building Futures help ex-cons rebuild their lives
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The familiar whine of a power saw could be heard from down the hallway and the smell of burnt wood still lingered in the air inside the workshop at Fathers Building Futures on Wednesday. Two men were hard at work measuring and cutting wood, moving from worktable to worktable, kicking up wood dust.
One was 43-year-old Justin Mack. His tattooed hands tightly gripping pieces of all-natural pieces of wood as he diligently read his tape measure. He is one of the roughly 20 active participants enrolled with Fathers Building Futures.
A nonprofit located at 1223 Fourth NW in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, Fathers Building Futures鈥� goal is to provide support to New Mexican fathers who are returning home from prison and provide them with the skills necessary to return not only to their families but to the workforce.
Mack was jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center for 2陆 years. Since joining the program in September, he has been working part time for the nonprofit, building handmade wooden items in its workshop. In addition, he is taking parenting and other life-skills classes at Fathers Building Futures.
鈥�(Fathers Building Futures) helped me so much. It helped me get my ID, my driver鈥檚 license, a job, something to fall back on,鈥� Mack said.
He is also hopeful the program will help him reconnect with his 7-year-old daughter.
鈥淚鈥檓 not in her life,鈥� Mack said. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to get in her life, and the program is helping me with that, too.鈥�
In many ways, Mack鈥檚 story is a microcosm of Fathers Building Futures鈥� entire mission. Joseph Shaw, director of nonprofit operations and a former participant of the program, said it is focused primarily on fathers with children younger than 18 and who are leaving incarceration in New Mexico.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 stepchildren, biological children or even a grandparent raising a child, it doesn鈥檛 matter,鈥� Shaw said.
Fathers Building Futures offers a six-month reentry program to participants. Men are referred to the program by Bernalillo Health Initiative and, if they agree to join, are visited several times in prison prior to their release by Fathers Building Futures social workers, who administer the lifestyle classes.
The classes focus on transitional living questions, according to Katie Manning, the nonprofit鈥檚 client outcomes manager, such as, where are you going to live? And what does it look like when you get out?
鈥淎s they come out (of incarceration), we do four months of post-release programs,鈥� Manning said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 paid on-the-job training, it鈥檚 part-time temporary employment, 25 hours a week, $15 an hour.鈥�
That 25 hours each week is spent learning introductory skills for woodworking and welding alongside fellow program participants. The woodworking is taught by the nonprofit鈥檚 master woodworker Richard Webb, who also served time in jail.
Having peers and instructors who have a similar experience being incarcerated is important, Shaw said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good way to build a relationship on trust when you鈥檙e sitting across from someone that you know can relate to what you鈥檝e been through.鈥�
The handmade wooden items participants make at the workshop are for sale on the Fathers Building Futures website, , and the proceeds go back to the nonprofit.
In addition to learning trade skills, program participants have the option of several life-skill courses.
鈥淲e try to individualize our services as much as possible. Everyone鈥檚 a little bit different, so we try to see what they like and how best we can support them on their path to success,鈥� Manning said.
Ranging from financial empowerment to parenting and job readiness, each course is designed with the end goal of permanent employment. Fathers Building Futures will provide support for alumni for up to two years after they leave the program.
鈥淲e like to say, 鈥榦nce a client, always a client,鈥欌�� Manning said.
Fathers Building Futures can assist program alumni with referrals for job searches, detox and treatment centers and other organizations that help assist program participants.
鈥淵ou hear people say, 鈥榠f I could just help one person,鈥� and knowing that we鈥檙e helping these guys to better themselves and to be the best version of themselves that they can, that鈥檚 a win,鈥� Shaw said.
Photos: Inside Fathers Building Futures' workshop
