Second Chance Month is Every Month for Abby Wolensky

National Second Chance Month may be a holiday that some individuals, companies, or organizations only celebrate once a year, but for Abby Wolensky, it is a part of her daily workload. As the Deputy Director at Auberle, Ms. Wolensky works to support and develop programming that connects individuals with justice system involvement to reentry training initiatives that prepare them for sustainable, long-term careers. During a time where employment has never been more critical, reentry programs provide a key solution to helping fill the gaps between job seekers and employers.

Since her move into Pittsburgh to study urban planning at the University of Pittsburgh, Ms. Wolensky has consistently taken interest in initiatives that uplift communities and break the cycle of poverty. During her time at Pitt, she participated in the school’s leadership portfolio program where she ultimately assumed a seat on Auberle’s board. She immediately recognized that this organization was the perfect fit for her personality and deeply rooted passions. “The moment I walked through the Auberle’s doors I felt a sense of belonging -- that the people are genuinely caring, and real, true work happens at the front lines… I immediately thought, ‘how do I make myself a part of this family?’” Ms. Wolensky said. 

Since joining the organization in 2014, Ms. Wolensky has continued to participate and expand “life-changing work at the intersection of economic development and human services” on a daily basis. Ms. Wolensky stressed that the work the Auberle team performs “heavily relies on trauma-informed care and looking closely into participant’s lives; taking into consideration very personal situations like homelessness and health problems.” 

A particular story of client growth and perseverance that keeps Ms. Wolensky inspired to this day came in the experience working with Marcus, a former participant of the Career Talent Pipeline Program. Marcus, a young man who experienced multiple barriers to employment, struggled to find his way in his early adulthood and as a result, faced incarceration at the age of 19. Fortunately, when released from his sentence, he participated in the Auberle program where we worked side-by-side with Auberle Case Managers Mr. Tim Kelly and Mr. Charles Saunders. By the conclusion of the program, Marcus secured employment paying $24/hour and affording him an apartment of his own. 

When it comes to the value of reentry work, Ms. Wolensky continually refers to Marcus’ story and his commitment to putting in the effort, invest in the initiative, and make a permanent perspective change. She believes that “offering people the opportunity the break the cycle is the most important aspect of reentry programming.” She also explained that the benefits are just as mutual for employers. “The impact of reentry initiatives and second chances applies to employers as well, because this offers them the opportunity to enter into an untapped workforce.”

A second story that Ms. Wolensky refers to when speaking about the power of reentry programs is about a gentleman named Demetrius who came to the organization in 2018 for support. When he first came to Auberle, Demetrius was previously incarcerated and experiencing homelessness. He participated in the Youth Build initiative and completed the program but could not keep his newly acquired position and ended up becoming reincarcerated. This relapse did not hinder his motivations but rather reinspired him to wholly take advantage of Auberle’s support system. Together with the guidance of Auberle Case Managers Mr. Tim Kelly and Mr. Charles Saunders and time spent in training programs, Demetrius ultimately was able to secure his GED and other certifications and now, one year later, is working a full-time job and operating his own moving business. “This story goes to show that Auberle is all about maintaining relationships even if people make mistakes. Auberle never gives up on you and Demetrius knew that.” 

As Ms. Wolensky looks to the future reentry programs, she hopes to see more initiatives that go beyond addressing basic workforce development needs. For holistic change to happen “we must take into consideration other needs such as addiction, alcoholism, housing, food disparities, mental health, and transportation,” she said. Changing minds is also an imperative step for evoking meaningful progress. “Helping communities and businesses overcome the stigma that these individuals are not redeemable is also critical to the future of reentry work,” Ms. Wolensky explained. Reentry programs, such as the Career Talent Pipeline and STRIVE that Ms. Wolensky oversees, are the key to instilling this change and bringing these notions to life. As more and more partners come to the table to support this concept and reframe this idea, the greater opportunity these individuals will have to thrive in our workforce, create meaningful lives for themselves, and truly have second chances. 

If you own or operate a business or organization and have the capacity to offer vocational training, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and transitional employment programs in high-priority sectors we encourage you to apply to our Request for Quotes for reentry training programs. Don’t miss your chance to make a difference! Apply here.