New business helps felons leave their past in the past
- May 11, 2015
- / Louis Cooper
- / economy
Sometimes even a second chance needs a jump start.
Adam Harrell got his second chance about three years ago. When he got in trouble for substance-abuse related issues, instead of jail, he was admitted to the Pathways for Change program, an 18-month program that helps rehabilitate offenders with such issues.
Harrell successfully completed the Pathways for Change program, but faced a hard reality when he started looking for work.
“It’s hard to leave your past in the past. No one wants to hire a felon or a recovering drug addict,” said Harrell, 30. “It made it very difficult to find the most menial job, let alone a real job you could use to build a future and support a family.”
[caption id="attachment_23128" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Robert Thomas, left, and Adam Harrell with the Pathways For Change Everything Outdoors lawn and maintenance service lay sod at a home in Pace. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
But Harrell’s second chance has received a jump start from a new endeavor at Pathways for Change – Everything Outdoors, a lawn and landscaping service to be run by Pathways’ graduates and current participants. Harrell has been hired as the business’ first foreman.
Chris Collins, Pathways’ chief operating officer, said Everything Outdoors is intended to help those in the program who experience the discrimination that Harrell faced – which is common.
“The No. 1 reason our clients return to their old lifestyles is lack of income,” Collins said. “Although our men are trained to be resourceful in finding work – and 100 percent of our clients are employed – the job usually pays at minimum wage.
"Employers can be more selective in our current economy and, many times, applicants with records are highly scrutinized and not given a chance.”
[sidebar]
Everything Outdoors offers the following services:
• Weed eating
• Leaf removal
• Trimming of palms, hedges and trees
• Installation of shrubs, flowers, sod and trees
• Pressure washing
• Landscape design
• Paver installation and retention
• Water features
Call (850) 619-2709 or email to [email protected] for estimates and other details.
[/sidebar]
Everything Outdoors is designed to help employees with more than just their current income.
“Firstly, they will gain work experience. Many individuals in their situation have inconsistent work history, lots of jobs, and periods of no work because of jail and prison,” Collins said. “Secondly, we are going to train them, not only on equipment and how to do the work, but also in the soft skills of employment, like how to be a good employee, workplace relationships and other things.
“We don’t just want them to get jobs. We want them to know how to be good employees and citizens.”
[caption id="attachment_23126" align="alignright" width="450"]
From left, Adam Harrell, Chris Collins, chief operating officer, and Robert Thomas with the Pathways for change Everything Outdoors lawn and maintenance service. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
Right now, Harrell and one current Pathways participant are working for Everything Outdoors. But Collins hopes the business eventually employs a foreman and two, four-member crews.
“I was very excited for the chance to give back to the program that gave me my life back,” Harrell said. “I view this job as an opportunity to not only be a positive role model to other men but also to build something that could help these men overcome the obstacles that I had to face about gainful employment.”
The idea for Everything Outdoors has been around for several years, but Pathways lacked the resources to get the program off the ground.
However, when Good Works Partnership – a nonprofit that had worked to help spruce up local homes in impoverished areas of Pensacola – closed, it gave Pathways a trove of equipment: two riding and four push mowers, five weed eaters, three edgers, five wheel barrows, lots of hand tools, blowers and a pressure washer.“This donation was the reason we were able to pursue our dream of starting our new business,” Collins said. “We still had to buy some equipment, but it was not what you normally would to start such an endeavor.”
While Everything Outdoors is primarily intended to help Pathways participants get a firm employment foundation, it is also aimed at raising money for the Pathways program itself. Collins estimates it could raise up to $35,000 a year.
“Our treatment program costs nothing for our clients. We also do a lot of counseling and services at our Family Center at no cost or a low cost for those who could not afford that type of care otherwise,” Collins said.
“It takes money to do all that, and we want to always be able to provide these services for those who can’t afford them. When people change, communities change, and we are about building a future for our community.”
Robert Thomas, left, and Adam Harrell with the Pathways For Change Everything Outdoors lawn and maintenance service lay sod at a home in Pace. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
But Harrell’s second chance has received a jump start from a new endeavor at Pathways for Change – Everything Outdoors, a lawn and landscaping service to be run by Pathways’ graduates and current participants. Harrell has been hired as the business’ first foreman.
Chris Collins, Pathways’ chief operating officer, said Everything Outdoors is intended to help those in the program who experience the discrimination that Harrell faced – which is common.
“The No. 1 reason our clients return to their old lifestyles is lack of income,” Collins said. “Although our men are trained to be resourceful in finding work – and 100 percent of our clients are employed – the job usually pays at minimum wage.
"Employers can be more selective in our current economy and, many times, applicants with records are highly scrutinized and not given a chance.”
[sidebar]
Everything Outdoors offers the following services:
• Weed eating
• Leaf removal
• Trimming of palms, hedges and trees
• Installation of shrubs, flowers, sod and trees
• Pressure washing
• Landscape design
• Paver installation and retention
• Water features
Call (850) 619-2709 or email to [email protected] for estimates and other details.
[/sidebar]
Everything Outdoors is designed to help employees with more than just their current income.
“Firstly, they will gain work experience. Many individuals in their situation have inconsistent work history, lots of jobs, and periods of no work because of jail and prison,” Collins said. “Secondly, we are going to train them, not only on equipment and how to do the work, but also in the soft skills of employment, like how to be a good employee, workplace relationships and other things.
“We don’t just want them to get jobs. We want them to know how to be good employees and citizens.”
[caption id="attachment_23126" align="alignright" width="450"]
From left, Adam Harrell, Chris Collins, chief operating officer, and Robert Thomas with the Pathways for change Everything Outdoors lawn and maintenance service. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)[/caption]
Right now, Harrell and one current Pathways participant are working for Everything Outdoors. But Collins hopes the business eventually employs a foreman and two, four-member crews.
“I was very excited for the chance to give back to the program that gave me my life back,” Harrell said. “I view this job as an opportunity to not only be a positive role model to other men but also to build something that could help these men overcome the obstacles that I had to face about gainful employment.”
The idea for Everything Outdoors has been around for several years, but Pathways lacked the resources to get the program off the ground.
However, when Good Works Partnership – a nonprofit that had worked to help spruce up local homes in impoverished areas of Pensacola – closed, it gave Pathways a trove of equipment: two riding and four push mowers, five weed eaters, three edgers, five wheel barrows, lots of hand tools, blowers and a pressure washer.“This donation was the reason we were able to pursue our dream of starting our new business,” Collins said. “We still had to buy some equipment, but it was not what you normally would to start such an endeavor.”
While Everything Outdoors is primarily intended to help Pathways participants get a firm employment foundation, it is also aimed at raising money for the Pathways program itself. Collins estimates it could raise up to $35,000 a year.
“Our treatment program costs nothing for our clients. We also do a lot of counseling and services at our Family Center at no cost or a low cost for those who could not afford that type of care otherwise,” Collins said.
“It takes money to do all that, and we want to always be able to provide these services for those who can’t afford them. When people change, communities change, and we are about building a future for our community.”
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