Eugene Manigo answers the phone with a friendly hello, over a muffled blend of radio tunes and craftsmen's tools.
“Hold on, I'm in the shop,” he says. “Let me get over to my office.”
Better known as Gene, he designs and crafts wood furniture for a small business in Brooklyn, New York. He seems unconcerned that a phone call has interrupted his work day—he makes his own hours, he chuckles. He's the owner.
And it all started with the skills he'd brought with him out of prison.
BUILDING VALUE
Gene had served 30 years in prison before he began serving the public with woodworking. His case manager encouraged him to apply to Refoundry, an innovative nonprofit launched in early 2015 to empower the reentry community by giving them opportunities to turn recycled materials into objects with purpose and beauty.
Housed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Refoundry doesn't really teach skills; it shows people how to develop and use them.
“We believe that everybody is born with skills and talents and creativity,” says Tommy Safian, co-founder and executive director at Refoundry. “This place is designed to integrate people back into society, and to have that society integrated with them.”
“These people often feel like they've been discarded by society … As they repurpose things and give them new value, and people purchase them to take into their homes—the most intimate part of their lives— [the craftsmen] feel seen and valued in a way they haven't in a long time,”” he says.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
The harder Refoundry participants work, the more they produce. The more they produce, the more they get paid. Craftsmen sell their original handiwork weekly at Brooklyn Flea, a well-known local market.
That's where many returning citizens, like Gene, start attracting a customer base before moving on from Refoundry. By the time they've launched out on their own, they are more confident in their ability to actually run a business. Not all of them pursue jobs as craftsmen after Refoundry, but their experiences still help them succeed in a variety of work environments.
BUILDING HOPE
But for Gene, sticking with carpentry was an easy decision. It's not just about his business anymore. Since beginning his journey at Refoundry, Gene has made it a point to help other up-and-coming craftsmen find a second chance. He also recently completed a chaplaincy program, hoping to go behind the walls and mentor other men starting next year.
And that mission is as solid as the reclaimed wood he crafts with.
“The things I make out of wood can last,” Gene says, with earnest pride. Recently, Prison Fellowship® commissioned him to fashion five decorative candleholders for the 2016 Colson Hope Award recipients, honoring their service and dedication as champions of hope. “The wood may be old,” Gene adds, “but I can make it into something brand new that lasts for a long time. I want to help others do the same.”
Tommy agrees—it's about starting people on a journey that lasts beyond the Brooklyn Navy Yard. “One of our participants said, 'Refoundry opened the door, I walked through, and I can take it from here,'” he says. “That's the essence of what we're doing.”
THE CHARLES COLSON HOPE AWARDS
The Charles Colson Hope Awards, sponsored by Prison Fellowship, recognize people who have faithfully and courageously worked to restore those affected by crime and incarceration.
Charles Colson, who founded Prison Fellowship 40 years ago, was at ease with presidents, prisoners, wardens, pastors, laypeople, and legislators. In all times and places, he was a passionate advocate for incarcerated men and women, and their families, sharing his faith in the Gospel and honoring the God-given value and potential of each person. His impact on prison ministry, prison culture, and prison reform has been broad and lasting.
In keeping with his inspiring legacy, the Charles Colson Hope Awards honor people who, in following his example, have been role models to others and brought restoration through their sphere of influence.
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