Phoenix Project

McCracken County Jail wanted to CONGRATULATE these ladies. They have put some hard work and dedication in their future. We have been so blessed that we get to offer the opportunity to help better their lives and their families’ lives. West Kentucky community & Technical College received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment &Training Administration. That is used for vocational training here at McCracken County Jail. This is our 2nd all female class. We are proud to introduce these ambitious and determined ladies. The Female Electrical Class Graduates 2023. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

From left to right: Vince Duncan(Electrical instructor), Elizabeth Leach, Shannon Brock, Sierra Scott, Celia Bufkin, Angela Grogan, Kevin O’Neill (VP of Workforce and Economic Development at WKCTC)
Graduates not photographed: Kayla Birdwell and Nakia Case

Congratulations to our newest graduates from our Welding and Electrical Class. Here are just a few of our testimonials from the program.

Joseph Clark
I just want to say thank you for giving me a second chance and the opportunity to get a new skill and trade. Now I can live a better life when I get out. Thank you again for everything you all do for us.

James Williams
I’m thankful for the opportunity to have participated in the Basic Electrical Class offered in the work program. Learning new skills is an integral part of my life and I’m happy to add a new certificate to my repertoire. I plan to use what I learned within the entrepreneurial pursuits. I would like to thank Bince for being straightforward in his presentment of th course material.

Richard Cade
The feeling of accomplishment I have from receiving my welding certificate has filled me with pride and belief in myself. It’s a great thing this program has done for me and gives me hope that I can change my life for the better. The skills inmates learn is these classes give them what they need to make something of themselves. The teachers and staff have treated me like a man and not a criminal. I would like to give you all a special thanks for this opportunity.

Please help us congratulate Kaitlyn Howard on obtaining her GED while being incarcerated at the McCracken County Jail. Kaitlyn has taken advantage of the programs that are being offered at the McCracken County Jail. Kaitlyn is also enrolled in the vocational electrical class. Below you will see in Kaitlyn’s words on how our programs have benefited her.

Kaitlyn Howard
Having my GED now will allow me more job opportunities as well as making it possible to further my education, which Is the first step to building my lifelong career. I’ve also been given the opportunity to participate in the electrical program that is being offered at the McCracken County Jail that could lead me to a career as well. I’m glad to have been able to utilize my time incarcerated to achieve goals which grant me the opportunity & tools to better my life once I am released from jail.

Chief Deputy
Stephen Carter

Help us congratulate Rachael Lloyd on obtaining her GED while being incarcerated at the McCracken County Jail. Rachael makes the 27th individual that has earned their GED while being incarcerated at the McCracken County Jail. Below you will see in Rachael’s words on how the program at the McCracken County Jail has benefited her.

Rachael Lloyd
Now that I have earned my GED, I feel an overwhelming amount of accomplishment. It warms my heart knowing that I have made my momma proud. I can finally go to college to accomplish my goal to become a cosmetologist. I can finally become somebody I am proud of. I’m very grateful for Kayla the program director at the McCracken Country Jail for giving me the courage and opportunity to earn my GED. I can’t wait to see what I can accomplish next!!

Chief Deputy
Stephen Carter

Help us Congratulate our newest graduates from our Electrical Class. Below are their testimonials on how the program has prepared them for their release.

" The Electrical class was a great experience. I didn't think that I could do however I have also learned that whatever you put your mind to you can do it. Everything I learned during this program was worth learning. The knowledge that I am able to take from this program is going to take me to the correct path in life. The class overall was a great experience and I would recommend it for anyone. When released, I will be putting what I have learned to use”.
Alica Jones

“Having a vocational class such as the electrical class gave me the opportunity to grow in other wise stagnate environment. It also gives us a starting point to have a lifelong career so that we can provided for our families. These skills are what we need to succeed as we are reintroduced back into society”.
Abigal Thomas

“I am currently a state inmate housed at the McCracken County Jail. Since being incarcerated here, I have been allotted the opportunity to enroll and complete serval education programs. Being Anger management, MRT, Untangling relationships and now completing the Electrical Class. I am extremely grateful and applicative for the change I have had to expand my technical skills while also bettering myself while being incarcerated”.
Amanda Virge

Chief Deputy
Stephen Carter

We would like to congratulate Michael Craven on obtaining his GED while being incarcerated at the McCracken County Jail. Michael makes the 31st individual that has earned their GED through the program that we offer at the McCracken County Jail. Our Educational & Vocational programs are a top priority at our facility. We strongly believe that these programs will not only reduce recidivism, but will also set the future for the incarcerated and their families once they are released from our facility.

Chief Deputy
Stephen Carter

Help us congratulate Kassandra Riley on obtaining her GED while being at the McCracken County Jail. Below you will see in Kassandra’s words on how the GED program at the McCracken County Jail has benefited her.

"I plan on going to technical college for business management to prepare myself to open a business in alterations & seamstress. Now that I have my GED, I can improve myself for my children, & grandson. Thank you so much for this opportunity to prove to myself that you can do anything that you set your mind to."

Kassandra Riley

Thanks Mot Electric!!!!!!!!’nn

Thank you Caleb an the folks at Mot Electric for contributing your time and efforts to get our Graceland Building set up for electricity. This building is a vital tool in teaching our electrical class. These guys braved the extreme heat and beaming sun to get us hooked up. Thank you for your volunteering in this effort. You guys are awesome!!!
I want to encourage anyone reading this post to take a moment to send them a kind word of appreciation. Without folks like this, these projects just would mot happen. Thanks again from all of us at McCracken County Jail and the Phoenix Project!

Congratulations to Cincere Bailey. Mr Bailey is the latest GED graduate from the McCracken County Jail GED program in partnership with WKCTC.

https://www.paducahsun.com/news/inmate-training-program-has-first-female-graduation/article_9630dd43-e6ce-5a36-803f-6d4ff802bf5a.html?fbclid=IwAR0Ib4mUhQYZYNpHw8ea2gQt8GMm-3mlmlblmxqX6cFg5145UgicvPp4CbA&mibextid=2DNWWX&fs=e&s=cl

Inmate training program has first female graduation The McCracken County Jail inmate training program has its first female graduation ceremony on Wednesday at the jail annex.

Phoenix Project proudly announcing the graduation of the very first multi county class. Thanks David Snow from The Paducah Sun for filing this report.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paducahsun.com%2Fnews%2Ftwelve-graduate-from-inmate-deckhand-training%2Farticle_518b67cb-2e9c-561c-93de-0ffbcf4eb136.html%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2S1b8fVq543D6nOmLzVJ47cRzpYCRX6F5dijK1VIniT687sDKZiN-CiNI&h=AT27it5FSP3D0Qz2vhjiPCPELusMRlbgmkTVu2yFiANYsUViV_SpXDPEEhYhwi9uA1sRj9_PqF2KSWvtlV3YrbL0Ut5Z8VSsa1iHg8Ytvmzi32aX_bQmAIpghCHBhXGjvcWZv9M_POlc&s=1

Twelve graduate from inmate deckhand training Twelve area inmates graduated from the Phoenix Project vocational training program for deckhands on Friday, opening doors for them for a career after incarceration.

Air conditioned classroom instructions have given way to hands on training in the brutal heat. These ladies are the very first class to use the brand new building/training aid donated by Graceland Portable Buildings,to the Phoenix Project Vocational Training program at MCCRACKEN County Jail.
Thanks to a Department of Labor grant through Delta Regional Authority and in partnership with WKCTC, these and many others will have an opportunity to pursue a career path in future classes.

Congratulations to Katrina and Abigail for being the first students to take advantage of the new computer lab ZOOM training offered by MCCRACKEN County Jail.
Jailer David Knight and Chief Deputy Stephen Carter have launched a new career training path for inmates to access learning opportunities to help make them employable after being released.
This particular class will train students for web design and touches on data coding. Knight and Carter expect other career training programs in the near future.
Good luck to Katrina and Abigail in your future endeavors.
Also, a big THANKS to Smart Path Technology for donating the computers for our Lab. Since these programs are not supported by tax dollars it would be impossible to have these opportunities without folks like Smart Path. You guys are awesome!!!

Phoenix Project updated their information in their About section.

Jailers Roger Ford from Marshall County and Jailer Ken Claud from Calloway County partner with Jailer David Knight of McCracken County to help train more inmates in a deckhand class. Area marine companies are anticipating hiring every individual that successfully graduates this class and can pass physical requirements. I hope you will join us at The Phoenix Project as we congratulate these jailers for their innovative vision.
Good luck to these graduates, and finally a huge appreciation for the participating second chance employers for their support

The Phoenix Project is soooo happy to announce our first female class. We have been waiting for a time when we had enough female inmates willing to take part in the vocations and that were classified by the Dept of Corrections and also fit other criteria. The time has finally arrived. These women will begin the Electrical Assistant class on June 2nd and will be learning from WKCTC certified instructor, Vince Duncan.
All hours certified in any of our classes can be applied to a General Occupational Associated Degree, through WKCTC. It is exciting to see the inmates light up with hope when these opportunities are available to them.

I couldn’t be more proud of these two! Jamie, for using the resources offered to her and changing her life, and Kayla Brown-Kauffman for leading the way! Our programs are only as good as our instructors and this is a great example of how awesome our instructors are!

I thought I would share another success story with everyone, to show the benefits of our programs and our community partners. This is Jamie and with her permission I’m sharing her story. I have known Jamie for a while and to see her progress is one of my greatest joys. Looking at this picture shows success, hope, and faith. Jamie has had ups and downs in the past and she has worked hard to get where she is now. The help she has received from our programs and our wonderful community partners, such as Kentucky Cares, and Goodwill she is on the right track. She is happy and healthy and looks forward to helping people in the future and given back to her community. She is a very compassionate speaker and I could not be more proud of her. They always thank us for helping them, but in reality I want to thank her and others that give us encouragement to keep going.

Jamie, on behalf of us here at McCracken County Jail, we are so proud of you and look forward to see what your future holds.

Kayla Kauffman
Programs Director
McCracken County Jail

Please allow me to introduce some amazing guys to you. Pictured from left to right are, Kevin O'Neill with WKCTC. Kevin was moved by the successes of the vocational training programs being started at the McCrcaken County Jail very early on and helped us secure a federally funded grant from the Department of Labor through the Delta Regional Authority. This was an amazing help since these programs are not tax based at all. Next pictured is Vince Duncan. Mr Duncan is a certified electrical instructor through WKCTC and will be instructing future classes at the jail. Next is Jailer David Knight. David is the short guy with a huge vision to educate people and reduce recidivism. David is a very innovated thinker and is creating a model for other correctional institutions to follow.
Lastly pictured is Brad Doll with Graceland Portable Buildings. After learning of the need for a structure to assist as a training aid, Mr Doll and the team at Graceland wasted no time jumping in to help. They were gracious enough to donate a 16X40 building for the students to wire over and over as they learn this new trade skill. Not only is it the best built building available, but they built it to our specs and even painted it to match our Restricted Custody Center. These folks do not short cut anything. They are amazing.
Thanks to all four of these guys and the teams that they represent for their efforts. These programs are truly changing lives for the better.

Congratulations to Noah Wilkins for being our 19th graduate from the GED program at MCCJ. This is no easy accomplishment and we celebrate with Noah, this mile stone in his life. WAY TO GO NOAH!!!

Jail receives new building for inmate electrical training A new 16-foot by 40-foot garage building will help McCracken County inmates apply skills they’ve learned before they are released and eventually hired to work skilled trade jobs.