Stakeholders gather at ABC’s annual meeting


Board members, partner organizations and community members gather at ABC's annual meeting, highlighting a successful year while discussing the challenges that former offenders continue to face. (Staff photo by Zack Newbauer)

Board members, partner organizations and community members gather at ABC’s annual meeting, highlighting a successful year while discussing the challenges that former offenders continue to face. (Staff photo by Zack Newbauer)

The reentry into society following incarceration presents an array of challenges, but the most fundamental hurdle is housing – a key issue at this year’s Antioch Builds Community, Inc. annual meeting.

“Right now housing is the biggest issue we are facing,” said Alesha Jones-Garrett, regional former offender specialist at the North Carolina Department of Commerce and guest speaker. “We’re losing a lot of individuals because they’re getting lost in the shuffle.”

Rev. Dr. Michael Page, chairman of Antioch Builds Community, Inc., begins the nonprofit’s annual meeting, highlighting the past year’s successes and outlining the year ahead before inviting up guests speakers. (Staff photo by Zack Newbauer)

Rev. Dr. Michael Page, chairman of Antioch Builds Community, Inc., begins the nonprofit’s annual meeting, highlighting the past year’s successes and outlining the year ahead before inviting up guest speakers. (Staff photo by Zack Newbauer)

ABC — the nonprofit affiliate of Antioch Baptist Church — combats recidivism (repeat incarceration) by continuing to provide holistic support to returning citizens with an emphasis placed on offering temporary housing, according to its website.

Antioch Builds Community, Inc. assembled its board members while welcoming community leaders, representatives from partner organizations and individuals from the community, all of whom ABC considers to be stakeholders in this effort.

Jones-Garrett highlighted opportunities business have when hiring from the pool of former offenders such as tax write-offs and the Federal Bonding Program, a type of insurance to protect the company from potential damages. With these initiatives in place, it is housing that presents the biggest obstacle, she said.

With such a need, it is a surprise that ABC has had a difficult time filling the two beds it offers at its transitional home in Northeast Central Durham, according to Rev. Dr. Michael Page, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church and chairman of ABC. Referrals from Chatham County Corrections Bureau and the Orange Correctional Center have not matched the need of this population, he said.

Guest speaker Michael Lockamy speaks to the benefits of Correction Enterprises as a component of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. “There’s no room for handouts in here, but we all fall down,” Lockamy said. (Staff photo by Zack Newbauer)

Guest speaker Michael Lockamy speaks to the benefits of Correction Enterprises as a component of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. “There’s no room for handouts in here, but we all fall down,” Lockamy said. (Staff photo by Zack Newbauer)

According to Page, that is one of the reasons this annual meeting was so important.

“We know these guys are out there. The obstacle has been trying to get them in our facility,” he said, but continued to explain how that is the reason this annual meeting was so important. “We were able to make connections.”

The meeting also accomplished another goal, celebrating this year’s successes while preparing for a promising year ahead. The third year of the Faith Reentry Conference is planned for Jan. 10, with keynote speaker Dr. Harold Trulear, director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Howard University.

“We’re trying to improve life for all of our citizens,” Page said, as this year ABC plans to extend the services it provides. “We’re going to finally launch our Achievement Academy for Young Men of Color, this is an eight-week, intensive program for improving skills for successful achievement.”

Other programs also found great success, according to Page. From ABC’s Employment Summit to the open doors it holds to celebrate Christmas Day, together ABC and its partners continue to try to serve their community.

The annual meeting concluded with a message from ABC board member Brenda Williams.

“Antioch is not alone in this fight,” she said, to which the stakeholders affirmed in applause.