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Faith‑based Jobs for Life program emphasizes dignity, mentorship for reentry and youth
Summary
Jobs for Life representatives described an 8‑week, mentor‑driven curriculum that emphasizes character, mentor champions and employer connections; a participant video highlighted individual reentry success.
Charles Cheek, representing Jobs for Life, told council the platform encourages churches and community mentors to prioritize employment and dignity for participants. He described an 8‑week class with mentors ("champions") who accompany students through training and into employment relationships with local employers that recognize the program’s curriculum.
Cheek emphasized character formation before technical training and described a local participant, Dwight Hunt, who recounted his route from incarceration to steady employment through Jobs for Life. Cheek said the program is expanding reentry‑focused cohorts and that his group is working to connect with existing local reentry programs and the House of Dreams reentry initiative in Hampton.
Council members and the city manager discussed whether Hampton's reentry council is as active as neighboring jurisdictions and requested follow‑up data on local reentry referrals and how many Hampton residents are served by regional reentry partnerships.
