Though sun rays weren’t beaming to match their cheerful spirits, participants of Mayor Chuck Espy’s Second Chance Program marched into the promise of brighter tomorrows at yesterday’s graduation ceremony. The graduates’ entrance into the ceremony was prefaced by the evocative sounds of Marvin Sapp’s “The Best in Me.”
Teaming with the Second Chance Program’s task force, community partners helped nine participants take an alternate route to job opportunities by providing financial literacy guidance, spiritual counsel, and expungement to the nonviolent ex-offenders. Partners involved include the Coahoma Community College Workforce Development Center, the Coahoma County Board of Supervisors, the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation, Coahoma Opportunities, Southern Bancorp Bank, Family and Youth Opportunities Division Inc., North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, and spiritual advisors.
Jon Levingston, the director of the Clarksdale-Coahoma Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Coahoma County Economic Development Authority, brought greetings.
“It’s about bringing jobs to Clarksdale, and if we don’t have people prepared to go to work and can fill those jobs, it won’t matter. Because of this program and what you have done, your commitment and your hard work, you’re going to help create greater financial sustainability, not only for you and your families but for the entire county and the city as well,” he told the graduates.
Timothy J. Morris, superintendent of the Mississippi State Penitentiary located in Parchman, Mississippi, presented the keynote address.
A Delta State graduate and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, Morris began by praising the graduates, saying, “You are so awesome; the steps you’re taking now, no one can take that away from you… It’s your time; don’t let anybody take that away from you.”
He urged the class to take responsibility for their moral rehabilitation and stressed that God focuses on the heart, unlike man.
Informing the audience that his speech was inspired by his pastor, Coahoma Community College President Dr. Valmadge T. Towner, Morris based his address on the well-known Bible story of David. While Jesse's son David lacked the muscularity of his seven brothers, he was the one least expected to be chosen as king of Israel, yet God led Samuel to anoint him.
“You’ve got to take full responsibility for this opportunity and move forward in this opportunity. God could’ve picked nine other people to be here, but he picked you. God knew you’d be sitting in this chair today,” Morris continued.
Towner followed up with remarks, thanking Mayor Espy for acting on his vision for ‘Second Chance.’
“No matter what people tell you, greatness is within you. This expungement deal is huge because we all need expungement. And I’m so happy to report that you are in the right place. We have a pathway for you to live an honorable, safe, clean life where you don’t have to look over your shoulders,” Towner remarked, promoting a slew of programs the College offers in Career and Technical Education, Academics, Health Sciences and Workforce Development. “And I want to challenge you; let Coahoma Community College be your pathway.”
Mayor Espy reflected on when he asked God for a “second chance” to help transform the city of Clarksdale. He ended up leaving his role as a state representative to return to Clarksdale and establish an open-door policy for Clarksdale residents.
“A lot of people will not be able to see your vision or what God has for you. Sometimes, it may not be best to talk to people about what you’re attempting to do. Maybe, some things are left between you and God. Not everyone is going to see what you see,” said Espy.
Espy organized the program, which is designed to minimize recidivism, with his own personal funds. It later received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Four of the graduates are enrolled in the College’s MI-BEST program.