A New Beginning: Center for Employment Opportunities

After serving 32 years and 7 months, returning to society was overwhelming for Ronnie. In Charlotte, CEO meets a community-identified need for second-chance employment by providing reentry support to individuals returning home from prison to build career capital and achieve financial stability. Their four-step process incorporates life skills education, short-term paid transitional employment, full-time job placement, and post-placement services. “From day one, they truly embraced me and provided me with the immediate opportunity to earn a living. But it went so much further than just a paycheck. Because of this program, I now have a Flagging certificate, actual legal work experience, and a real foundation for the future. Most recently, CEO made it possible for me to achieve a major milestone: earning my CDL license on June 15, 2026. They didn’t just give me a job; they gave me the tools to completely rebuild my life.”