Reentry advocate Kerwin Pittman (holding pair of ceremonial scissors) is joined by colleagues and supporters (including N.C. Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes – second from left) at a ceremony celebrating the launch of North Carolina’s first Mobile Recidivism Reduction Center in Raleigh on January 14, 2025. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow/NC Newsline)
Inside the brightly decorated bus, Cierra Levy and her team of reentry specialists are on a mission to transform lives. Shelves are stocked with hygiene kits, cold-weather gear, and even activities to keep children occupied, creating a welcoming environment for visitors.
This is the Mobile Recidivism Reduction Center, a pioneering initiative bringing vital resources and support directly to people reentering society from prisons. It is the brainchild of local advocate Kerwin Pittman, executive director of the nonprofit Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services, who officially launched it this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Raleigh.
“It is extremely important to go into directly impacted communities and service directly impacted individuals with a host of different benefits,” said Pittman.
The innovative center-on-wheels is outfitted with a range of free resources to assist those reentering society after incarceration. The goal is to be one-stop-shop where people can come and get the help they need.
On board, reentry specialists will help connect individuals to benefits like Medicaid, unemployment assistance, substance-abuse treatment, mental health resources, legal aid, and housing support.
“When we go to these communities, we want to uplift, not kick you down,” Levy said. “So, we’re here to make sure you’re able to get to that next step to make you feel successful.”
The center will also distribute harm reduction supplies such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips to address the overdose crisis impacting many reentry populations.
“We provide wraparound supportive services for individuals who are directly impacted,” said Pittman, who himself experienced reentry after incarceration. He was inspired to create the mobile center to empower those going through similar challenges. “I want them to know that they are worthy enough to come here and sit on the couches, whatever, to be in a center like this and get the resources and help that they need,” Pittman said. “But most importantly, I want to empower them to do even greater works than this.”
The Mobile Reentry Center arrives at a time when North Carolina is increasingly focused on boosting reentry support for the roughly 18,000 people who leave North Carolina prisons each year.
North Carolina released its “Reentry 2030” strategic plan in August, part of a national initiative calling on state officials to expand access to reentry services that people need when they leave prison.
Last January, former governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order aimed at supporting people released from North Carolina prisons each year.
The order directed the Department of Adult Correction (DAC) to coordinate with all state cabinet agencies to expand housing opportunities for incarcerated individuals, help people in prison enroll in Medicaid when they are released, and improve economic opportunities for them by expanding access to education.
Reentry is a public safety issue at its core, said Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, who attended the launch. “Ensuring those in our custody have the education, training, services and tools to successfully reenter society decreases the likelihood that they will commit further crimes.”
The Raleigh launch is just the beginning, with plans to expand the mobile center initiative to three additional regions of the state by the end of the year. For Pittman and his team, this is just the start of their mission to bring vital services directly to those who need it most.
Inside the mobile center, positive affirmations such as ” ‘be positive’ ‘be kind’ ‘stay humble’” adorn the walls. An independent media station allows community members to access the internet, complete job applications, and even print resumes – all with the support of Levy and her team.
With this innovative approach, the Mobile Recidivism Reduction Center hopes to transform lives one community at a time, one person at a time.