RECLAIMING LIVES | We use woodworking to cultivate job skills, stability, & dignity in men recently released from prison.
employment AND incarceration
95%
of employers conduct
background checks.
60%
of previously incarcerated men & women remain jobless.
52%
amount of previous income made after incarceration
82%
recidivate within 10 years.
Sources: www.vera.org & Bureau of Justice Statistics
job training to prevent recidivism
Soteria at Work is the job training social enterprise of Soteria CDC, a nonprofit that supports men and women just released from incarceration by providing housing, employment, education, affirmation, and advocacy services through our 6 to 12 month program.
Soteria at Work trains all men enrolled into the Soteria CDC program for their first 30 days so that they gain job skills while having the flexibility to catch up on doctor visits, obtain IDs, etc. After those first 30 days, if they want a career in woodworking, Soteria at Work will hire them as full time employees to deconstruct homes and build furniture.
Everything we make is custom to create a rich learning environment for our guys and unique products for our customers. The care that we put into each product reflects the care that we pour into each worker.
Soteria at Work’s wood shop offers a space for skill-building, mentorship, and a supportive community united by the desire to restore and to rebuild. Our interns gain skills in:
Woodworking
Deconstruction
Leadership
Teamwork
Accountability
At Soteria, we believe that work is a vehicle for transformation. It gives us an opportunity to become a part of something bigger than ourselves, to contribute, and to find purpose. The word “Soteria” actually means Salvation. Salvation is at Work here, reclaiming wood and reclaiming lives.
meet the team
PATRICK | READ HIS STORY >>
Pat exudes a calm, patient energy. He loves working at the woodshop because of the precision it requires. He used to work at data centers, but now enjoys the opportunity to step aside from technology and work outside. An empathetic listener, Pat’s long-term goal is to become a recovery coach to help people with alcohol and drug addictions.
ESAU |READ HIS STORY >>
Easy-going, cool, calm, and collected, Esau brings wisdom and maturity to the Soteria at Work crew. Esau says that he, “Enjoys what he’s doing - whatever it is.” You can tell. From weight lifting to working in the wood shop to supporting the other men enrolled in Soteria’s program, Esau’s zen-like presence, heart for people, and deep-seated contentment shine through.
WOODY |READ HIS STORY >>
Woody is a self proclaimed Jack of All Trades. His work history in the construction field immediately made him an asset to the Soteria at Work crew. A current participant in Soteria’s Residential Reentry program, Woody is working to build the job skills and stability that he needs to be the father for his children that he’s always wanted to be.
OUR FOUNDER| jerry blassingame
Author, pastor, artist, entrepreneur, speaker, founder
Through his ministry at Soteria CDC, Jerry Blassingame endeavors to empower individuals and the community through education, affordable housing, financial literacy, community and economic development, and entrepreneurship.
His passion is assisting individuals who have been incarcerated through reentry and helping them to become productive citizens.
Jerry attended Columbia International University and studied architectural engineering at Greenville Technical College. Jerry received a 20 year prison sentence in 1995 and only served 3 1/2 years after being paroled in 1999. He is also a Social Entrepreneur who believes in social enterprise for the non-profit sector. Jerry has continued to fight for change in legislation since he was granted a pardon in 2004. After 14 years of advocacy, South Carolina passed its first legislation to expunge felony drug charges in December of 2018.
In 2018, Jerry published his first book, Reclaimed, a memoir that details his story from tragedy to triumph.
Jerry lives in Greenville South Carolina and is an active part of the community and an advocate for economic and social justice.
