Community
Reentry Program in Kearny Graduates 400
About 400 people graduated from the New Jersey Reentry Corporation’s 2026 Summer Training Institute in a ceremony held in Kearny, marking another year for a program that trains court-involved individuals for the workforce.
The ceremony took place at the Governor’s Reentry Training and Employment Center in Kearny. The institute was sponsored by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Hudson County Community College. Organizers said it is the only training center in New Jersey dedicated exclusively to preparing formerly incarcerated and court-involved people for jobs.
This year’s participants trained across three pathways. The construction and trades pathway included OSHA safety, forklift and scissor lift operation, solar panel installation, and welding certifications. The healthcare pathway offered phlebotomy training with CPR certification and peer recovery specialist training. The digital literacy pathway provided Microsoft basics certification. Organizers said the 2026 cohorts posted a 98 percent completion rate and a 72 percent employment rate.
Four graduates addressed the audience: Malik Lott, who completed phlebotomy training; Ahmed Jaffery, who trained in welding; Dana Groomes, who trained as a peer recovery specialist; and Calvin Bass, who served 38 years in state prison and now works as an outreach coordinator at NJRC’s Essex County facility.
“You committed yourself to learning. You showed up. You worked through challenges,” Kearny Mayor Carol Jean Doyle said. “You developed skills which led to meaningful careers in construction, healthcare, technology, and other industries.”
Hudson County Community College President Lisa Dougherty encouraged the graduates to keep moving forward. “You know better now, you’ll do better now, and Hudson County Community College is there for you,” she said.
Since opening, the center has enrolled more than 3,100 participants and awarded over 10,000 industry-recognized certifications, according to NJRC.
