PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia officials celebrated the opening of a welding training center for incarcerated men and women on State Road on Friday.
Training leader Sherman McLeod said welding is lucrative and in high demand, providing an unparalleled opportunity upon release.
“Making a god-awful lot of money, making a career, taking care of their families, their loved ones, their children. This is what this is all about,” McLeod said.
The center is on the grounds of the city prison complex. It is supported by the Green Family Foundation, whose mission is to break unhealthy cycles through education and training.
Those in the program will receive training from McLeod’s company, PTTI. He said this will open doors that are too often closed to returning citizens.
“These people can not only go into the shipyard, but they can also go into entrepreneurship in the neighborhood to unlock value they could not even fathom getting to.”
Deputy Mayor Crystal Yates-Gale said welding is not only a practical skill, but it’s a great metaphor.
“We’re really building a bridge, a bridge between incarceration and employment, between training and opportunity, and a bridge between returning home and being prepared to succeed when you get there,” Yates-Gale said.
The Skills Center is the latest step in the prison’s turnaround. A few years ago, they were plagued by staffing shortages, violence, lockdowns and escapes. Now, they’re building the city’s workforce.
“We’re giving people hope so they’re less likely to get in trouble on the inside and more likely to be productive and not get in trouble when they’re on the outside,” said Sen. Sharif Street.
