Raleigh Staffing Agency Transforms Man’s Life After Prison Sentence

AtWork franchise owner Jerry Bland helps individuals rebuild their lives in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

Read the original at Franchising.com
Raleigh Staffing Agency Transforms Man’s Life After Prison Sentence

TL;DR

AtWork franchise owner Jerry Bland has helped individuals rebuild their lives in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, including Tracy Thompson, who turned his life around after incarceration. Thompson found a job in the Solar Distribution industry through AtWork and has since become a success story, inspiring others with his story of resilience and redemption.

Among those the AtWork Raleigh-Durham team has helped since opening its doors six years ago is Tracy Thompson. Thompson’s journey from incarceration to thriving in the workforce embodies the transformative power of support and opportunity.

“Our mission at AtWork is to impact lives by providing not just jobs but pathways to new beginnings. We work hard to build relationships with our clients and job seekers to find the perfect fit and improve our community,” said Bland.

At 17 years old, Thompson found himself caught in a cycle of addiction, leading to a life of crime that resulted in three prison sentences. Determined to turn his life around, Thompson walked into AtWork Raleigh-Durham, seeking employment and a chance to redefine his identity.

“Tracy was authentic and honest with me about his situation. His commitment to changing his life was evident,” said Bland. “I knew he was someone I could take a chance on, and I am so proud of what he’s done since.”

Bland found Thompson a job in the Solar Distribution industry that was the perfect fit. He quickly adapted to his new role, demonstrating a remarkable initiative that did not go unnoticed. From learning new skills to voluntarily taking on additional responsibilities, Thompson’s journey from a halfway house to a full-time position with the company, complete with a 15% pay raise, full benefits, and profit sharing, is a powerful example of resilience and redemption.

Thompson now rents his own apartment, owns a car, and regularly attends church. He also regularly meets with residents at the same halfway house he used to live in, sharing his story to inspire others and affirm the possibility of change and happiness.

“Seeing someone like Tracy transform his life with a little guidance and opportunity is exactly why I chose to open AtWork Raleigh-Durham. It's about more than filling job positions; it’s about changing lives and serving parts of our communities that need us the most,” said Bland.

In this story

This story was originally published in Franchising.com on March 18, 2024. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.

Read the full story at Franchising.com

Liked this? Get the week's franchise news, explained

  • Sunday 8 AM ET weekly + a monthly deep dive
  • Sections picked for the industries you follow
  • Every claim linked to its source. Free.

Free. We'll ask you to confirm. Unsubscribe anytime.