BRIDGEPORT – Ex-offenders, advocates and employers from throughout the region will be honored at the 1st Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative Award Ceremony on March 26th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Housatonic’s Beacon Hall Events Center. Over 80 awardees will receive recognition in such areas as Outstanding Student, Advocacy, Personal Achievement, Business Partner of the Year and Community Partner of the Year. Awards will be presented by Bridgeport State Representative Andres Ayala, William Carbone, Director of Court Support Services Division, State of CT, Dr. Patrick Hynes, Director, Office of Best Practices, CT Department of Correction, Rina Bakalar, Executive Director of Workforce Competitiveness, CT Department of Labor, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, Michael Lawlor, Deputy Secretary, CT Office of Policy and Management, U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill, Jarvis Johnson, Aide to U.S. Congressman Jim Himes.
A special honor, the Urdang-Torres Community Impact Award, will be given to John Santa for his role in educating the employer community about the importance of hiring ex-offenders. Winners were nominated by over 40 different member agencies of the Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative.
“This is an event that has been a long time in coming. Ex-offenders get little recognition for their achievements in life. Together as a community we can recognize them for their accomplishments” says Career Resources President/CEO Scott K. Wilderman, founding member of the Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative.
The Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative, a voluntary association of more than 40 local and state agencies that have worked together since 2007 to create a comprehensive network of services for men and women returning from incarceration to the greater Bridgeport community.