After his conviction for illegally carrying a firearm, Jayon Williams served time in prison with dignity and peace.
Upon his release, however, he had no sense of direction and no job.
“I wanted to make positive choices, and I knew what I wanted to do (as a career), but couldn’t find a place to apply it,” said Williams, 30.
Fortunately, he heard about New Life Development Ministries. When Williams visited the ministry’s Westside center, he knew it was where he needed to be. He was soon trained in construction work, with special certification as an electrician.
“I’m happy to be able to do the right thing now, such as paying the bills, and taking care of my kids and family,” Williams said.
He readily gives credit for his new success to New Life Development Ministries.
For more than 20 years the non-profit side of the ministry has encouraged ex-offenders and trained them for construction related trades, while its for-profit side has hired them for various projects, giving them life sustaining wages so that they will have no reason to turn to crime.
According to a recent report by the City of Indianapolis, slightly more than half of all former inmates who return to the area from prison end up with another felony conviction within three years of their release.
Rev. Eugene Potter, founder of New Life Development Ministries, said the organization presents solutions to the problem of recidivism, the process of ex-offenders (or re-entrants) ending up back in prison, which continues to be a frustrating challenge for policy makers in communities across the nation.
“When someone is released from prison and can’t make a living, it is tempting for them to return to the streets,” said Potter. “We know that the problem is jobs, but we need to do more than just talk about it. We have to create solutions and opportunities.”
The solution that New Life Development Ministries provides is training and employment.
“Those are the two things that are needed by re-entrants,” Potter said. “We can teach them something that the industry needs so that they are in high demand.”
Potter, who has consulted the U.S. Department of Justice on re-entry iniatitives, first established his program in Baltimore 20 years ago, but said he felt a calling from God to bring it to his native Indianapolis.
After reviewing data released by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Potter found that among the fields with high demand for employees is construction.
“It is also the most forgiving industry for ex-offenders,” said Potter, who is a licensed contractor and associate minister at Mt. Zion Apostolic Church. “When you return to the workforce as a re-entrant, you start at the back of the line. However, once you’ve been trained to be something like a carpenter, electrician or HVAC technician, you suddenly come to the front of the line.”
Over the years, hundreds of re-entrants have been trained by New Life Development Ministries and hired for work on construction, remodeling and renovation projects needed by churches, businesses and residences.
The ministry works with local real estate investors who purchase distressed properties, then renovate them with submarket bids – giving the investors immediate increased value in the properties.
Churches, companies and homeowners who need construction related work done can save money by working with New Life Development Ministries, which offers quality service but also has bids lower than most companies because it uses a workforce of ex-offenders.
Recently The Original Church of God, in need of major renovations to its 125-year old structure, accepted a bid from New Life Development Ministries after getting less affordable estimates from several construction companies.
Remodeling of the sanctuary and other areas was completed by re-entrants who took pride in their work, and the church saved over $150,000.
Currently, New Life Development Ministries is in a partnership with Crown Hill Cemetery, the nation’s third largest privately owned cemetery that has provided landscaping work on its extensive property.
Jay Brammer president of Crown Hill Cemetery and Funeral, has invested in the ministry and used his property management company to purchase several houses in the area to provide work for those employed by New Life Development Ministries.
The ministry has also provided work opportunities through collaborations with the City of Indianapolis and organizations like the Indianapolis Urban League, Martindale-Brightwood Weed and Seed and the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis.
In addition to its partnerships, New Life Development Ministries also benefits from grants, such as those from the local Community Crime Prevention Grant Program.
Re-entrants, however, will find more than just training and employment with the organization. They are also able to work with volunteers and case managers who can help them reach goals such as getting a high school diploma, getting into college and raising their self-esteem.
“It’s only been two weeks, and I’m already doing better,” said re-entrant Jonah James, 32, who is being trained in landscaping. “I’ve been in a couple of other programs, but none are as supportive as this one.”
Tiffany Wilfong, since her release from prison, has been juggling a busy school schedule and other responsibilities while working full time with New Development Ministries.
“They are really amazing,” said Wilfong, who also works in landscaping. “I don’t think I would be where I am now without them.”
Although New Life Development Ministries’ main goal is getting ex-offenders stabilized, it also incorporates basic Christian principles in its operation.
“We weave those principles into our system,” Potter said. “We have had guys and women with all kinds of criminal histories here but only one fight in 20 years, because everybody treats each other with respect.”
Gerald Trotter, a director with the program noted that while every trainee and employee has their own goals, they all enjoy working as a unit.
“Together, they are always on point and people are always pleased with their work,” Trotter said, before smiling and adding, “We are very much like a family here. If we had an official theme song it would be ‘It’s a Family Affair,’ by Sly & The Family Stone.”
Anyone interested in training or renovation bids can call (317) 921-5433. They may also visit New Life on Facebook, where you can view videos and photos of its program.
