'Our Work Ethic Speaks for Itself': How Rehabilitation Set Malika Up For Career Success

We know that rehabilitation works at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. For many reentered citizens like Malika, rehabilitation can be a call to change - for themselves and the people they serve.

When Malika first arrived in prison, she was distraught and angry. However, she began to see that her time away impacted her loved ones when her mother and three-year-old son came to visit.

"I saw how hurt and depressed my mother was, how she couldn't understand how her daughter was doing prison time. And she saw how stressed I was. It was affecting her and my son," she said. "I knew I had to make a change."

Malika realized she had to work toward a better future for herself and her family. "That made me change my thinking, to show my family when they came to see me the next time that I'm okay so they could be okay," she said.

Malika started applying to every ODRC program she could. She took a victims awareness course, a building maintenance and repair course, and a welding course. She worked with the Hope Channel, ODRC's inspirational broadcast network, where she learned to edit videos and speak to an audience.

Eventually, Malika enrolled in college classes through ODRC and, with the help of an ODRC team member, was given access to a secure laptop to teach herself how to use computer programs. "It gave me confidence that somebody believed in me enough that I could do this," she said.

With every course she completed and skill she learned, Malika's abilities grew - and she was eager to share them. "I signed up for everything and sent those certificates home to my family so they can see that I wasn't doing this time away from them in vain," she said.

After her release, Malika got practical work experience in northeast Ohio because of the education she received while incarcerated. She worked with a catering company and for Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute, an organization in Cleveland that helps people get real-life work experience after prison.

Malika's experience eventually led to a full-time role at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM), where she was ultimately promoted to senior leadership. Today, Malika is LMM's Workforce Development Program Director, helping oversee LMM's workforce development initiatives and the Chopping for Change program.

An innovative partnership between LMM, ODRC, and the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry, Chopping for Change empowers women with pre-release culinary skills training. "I started as the kitchen supervisor. It was a pilot program with five ladies," said Malika. "Since then, it's grown into catering, and we've had up to 50 women at a time."

Chopping for Change offers participants the opportunity to get their associate degree, a therapeutic skills program run by a clinical case worker, and a program for men at Grafton Correctional Institution. The program also partners with northeast Ohio restaurants so participants get real work experience. A Chopping for Change food truck even shares delicious food cooked by participants at local events.

For Malika, building up Chopping for Change has been immensely rewarding. Last year, she completed her college education by earning a master's degree in business administration from Cleveland State University. "This organization is big on second chances," said Malika. "It's been a great opportunity to get other people jobs and to help people see that our work ethic speaks for itself."

Every day, Malika uses her skills to help others and ensure that job opportunities for incarcerated people are available.

"I'm helping make the road smoother for those coming behind me," said Malika. "That's my motto."

Learn more about how your organization can help create second chances for incarcerated people by visiting our Reentry Program Partnerships page.

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