ANSON COUNTY, N.C. — The past can sometimes strangle the present, especially for families who have experienced the criminal justice system.
Data from North Carolina Health News shows more than 20,000 kids with incarcerated parents here in North Carolina will also face higher chances of ending up behind bars themselves.
It's a problem that one group in Anson County is tackling head-on.
"What we are failing to see is the fastest growing population is not the guys coming back to prison, it’s the children of inmates," said Cyril Prabhu, the founder of Proverbs226. "It's just alarming."
The reality weighs heavy for Prahbu. But while history can’t be rewritten, Proverbs226 is giving the children of incarcerated adults a powerful tool: a pen to tell the story of their futures
"We need to bring education back into the life of these children," said Prabhu.
That's exactly what Proverbs226 is aiming to do, by offering education in the trades.
"We are going to have five trades, including things like welding and digital arts," said Prabhu.
The mission is set to be accomplished in classrooms, although they won't be happening in a traditional school building. Instead, Proverbs226 is transforming the old Anson Correctional Center in Anson County into the 5 and 2 Trade School.
What was once a place for confinement is now set to be a building filled with hope and opportunities. The 5 and 2 Trade School aims to stop generational incarceration through education, in a place that evolved from a prison to a trade program.
Prabhu says transforming what was once a place steeped in despair into a space for empowerment is a critical part of his nonprofit's mission.
"We seem to have lost that vision for education, we need to change that," he said.
The school is set to open on October 15, 2024. It's located at 1019 Old Prison Camp Road in Polkton. It will be free to all students. If you would like more details about registration and how you can help, click here.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.