Hands-on training in welding, carpentry, and electrical work is helping individuals at Leake County Correctional Facility prepare for life after release.
CARTHAGE, Miss. — April 2, 2026 – Inside a workshop at the Leake County Regional Correctional Facility, the steady hum of saws blends with laughter and instruction. Groups of students lean over their projects, focused and engaged, learning skills that could reshape their futures.
Here, the atmosphere feels less like a prison and more like a classroom — one where second chances are being built by hand.
Through workforce training programs offered by East Central Community College and supported by AccelerateMS, incarcerated individuals are gaining hands-on experience in welding, carpentry, and electrical work — practical skills they can carry with them long after release.
“We’re proud to support initiatives that align workforce investment with real opportunity,” said Shelika Hooker, director of investments and initiatives. “Through partnerships delivering industry-recognized training in high-demand fields, these programs expand talent pipelines, reduce barriers to employment, and strengthen Mississippi’s workforce—demonstrating how targeted investments can drive both economic growth and second-chance success.”
“What this is doing is giving these individuals skills they can use upon release,” said Lynne Carey, workforce coordinator in Neshoba County.
The programs are short-term but impactful. In just a few weeks, participants complete dozens of hours of training and earn industry-recognized certificates — credentials they can present to potential employers. The current electrical and carpentry cohorts began together and are scheduled to complete on April 22. The program includes eight students in carpentry and six in electrical.
For some, those opportunities are already becoming reality.
One graduate from the facility’s first welding class secured a job at Atala Steel after his release — a milestone Carey says highlights the program’s purpose.
“He is now employed there and making a difference for himself, the community, and his family,” she said.
Warden Jerry Horn has seen that transformation firsthand.
“We’re just trying to give them basic skills they can use once they get outside these walls,” Horn said. “With these certificates, they can walk onto a construction site and secure a job.”
For many participants, it’s their first exposure to a trade — and their first glimpse of a clear path forward.
In the electrical class, instructor Brian Thompson guides students through reading blueprints, wiring switches, and installing outlets. By the end, they’ve built a foundation for entry-level work.
“They should be able to tell an employer, ‘I’ve done some of this — just show me what you want,’” Thompson said.
For Rodrigo Hamblin, the experience has been both eye-opening and motivating.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “The way we did it on paper and then to actually see it — it all comes together.”
He’s already considering how those skills could shape his future, possibly working alongside his grandfather in construction.
In the carpentry shop, that same sense of purpose is taking shape one board at a time.
Students measure, cut and assemble walls — projects that will be used by future classes. For many, it’s their first time working with tools.
“Before I came to this class, I didn’t know anything about carpentry,” said Michael Wright. “I’m trying to learn so when I get back into society, I have something to look forward to.”
James Nelms said the hands-on approach has made all the difference.
“I love all the hands-on activity we have here,” he said.
Instructor Howard Wilson said the students’ enthusiasm has stood out most.
“I didn’t know what to expect at first, but it’s been great,” he said. “These guys are engaged and eager to learn.”
As the facility looks to expand into additional programs like plumbing, leaders say the goal remains simple: provide the tools for success — and a reason to believe in a better future.
Inside the workshop, that future is already taking shape.
About AccelerateMS
AccelerateMS supports the people and businesses of Mississippi by creating and implementing workforce strategies that link individuals to transformative, high-paying careers. Through strong partnerships and effective grants management, the organization promotes sustained individual, community, and statewide economic growth.
