Former car salesmen and construction workers, they know all too well that landing steady work is often difficult, particularly for men whose past misdeeds are documented on a rap sheet. According to the Urban Institute, at least one-third of former prisoners can’t find work in the first year after their release. And about half are locked up again within three years, according to US Justice Department findings.
Despite those grim statistics, McLaughlin and his fellow chefs-in-training are determined to beat the odds. The 14 inmates, having completed 400 hours of classroom lessons and in-kitchen training, will leave the house of correction with a five-year ServSafe sanitation certificate, a prerequisite for a job in the food-service industry, and a certificate of participation from Shawsheen Valley Technical High School. Each inmate also earned 12 college credits toward a degree at Middlesex Community College.
They were to be lauded yesterday for their achievements during a graduation ceremony featuring celebrity chef Ming Tsai, of the PBS cooking program “Simply Ming,’’ and attended by their families. In preparation for the celebration, the inmates planned a menu and prepared a luncheon for the invited guests. It was the first time in months that the men were able to speak to a loved one without being separated by a pane of glass. Allowing such contact during the graduation conveys a clear message about the importance of providing for family.
“The two most powerful and inspirational days I’ve had in office were graduation days,’’ said Peter Koutoujian, a former state representative who was named sheriff of Middlesex County in January. “For many of these men, this is the first time they’ve succeeded at something. They have such a sense of pride, and their parents, grandparents, and children are there to see them being recognized for something positive. There are very few dry eyes in the house.’’
