WELD Reentry: Moving forward together

When people return to community after incarceration, the most visible challenges often appear externally: finding housing, securing employment, reconnecting with family, and navigating the demands of supervision. While these external barriers are real and pressing, lasting reentry success depends on something deeper - the internal work of healing, growth, and self-discovery.

At WELD, we know that reentry is not simply about “fitting back in.” It is about transformation. Many of our members carry layers of trauma, addiction, mental health struggles, and the weight of systemic barriers. Without the opportunity to address these underlying issues, even the most well-designed housing and job programs fall short. True reentry begins with the internal shifts that allow people to rebuild their sense of self, resilience, and purpose.

WELD Month provides a structured, peer-led environment where participants can pause, reflect, and begin the work of reshaping their lives. Over the course of the program, members engage in workshops and conversations that focus on accountability, self-awareness, healthy decision-making, and the tools needed to sustain recovery. With guidance from people who have walked the same path, WELD Month creates space for members to practice new habits of thought and behavior in a supportive community.

In addition to WELD Month, our behavioral health services address the mental and emotional dimensions of reentry. Through counseling, recovery support, and case managers, members work through trauma, manage stress, and build healthier coping strategies. This work allows them to stabilize their lives, sustain sobriety, and strengthen their relationships. By tending to behavioral health, we help members build a strong internal foundation that supports all other aspects of reentry.

Why Internal Work Matters
The challenges of reentry cannot be solved with housing or employment alone. Success comes when individuals are able to:

• See themselves as worthy of stability and opportunity.

• Develop new tools to navigate stress, conflict, and setbacks.

• Strengthen resilience by connecting with peers and community.

• Build a renewed sense of identity rooted in dignity and possibility.

At WELD, we believe that when the internal work is supported, external success follows. Our members don’t just reenter society - they transform it, becoming leaders, role models, and advocates who help others find their way forward.