North Carolina man creates program to help inmates with mental health, job training

A North Carolina man created a program that aims to help prisoners with their mental health and transition to a positive life. Dwayne Lester, Jr. created the TikTok (inside connection for family members and friends, outward connection for residents) innovation. , LLC in 2013. The mission of the program is to “offer a program for correctional facilities that allows residents to have a second chance through our mentorship and job placement training program.” Lester said the idea arose when he was first arrested after receiving dozens. parking and speeding tickets, and that’s when his brother was arrested. “I felt like a beast,” Lester described his experience. “I felt like I had no authority, and I felt limited to the point where I wasn’t able to do anything… makes me feel helpless or hopeless for him (brother) to do anything.” For him not to be able to.” Lester said the program is currently being used at a corrections facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. He said it is made up of many people who have been arrested, and understand what it’s like to be inside a detention/correction facility. He said it allows him to create a program that works, while understanding what may not work. He added that program leaders also ask for feedback from the public and current inmates to ensure that the program continues to evolve, and is meeting the needs of the community. “Listening to the public. Listening to the prisoners,” he shared. “A lot of our services are driven by inmates’ opinions. That’s what works. That’s what works. It doesn’t work. The worst part is to create a schedule for an experience they’ve never had ” He said the program focused on the following key services: Mental health Job training Connecting families with loved ones inside a facility Lester added Mental illness is one of the many reasons an inmate commits a crime, and it cannot be ignored . She said the program works with outside mental health agencies to help prisoners understand their feelings, what triggers them, and how they can manage their emotional concerns and recover from them. “You can give a person a car, clothes, money. You can give them all they need to survive, but the mental health piece is the most important and essential,” Lester said. He said, “It (mental health) is the root cause of many crimes and activities because it is something that I thought I had to do with thought. It is mental health. It has to be under control. It has to be treated. Ignore it. Can’t be done.” The program also offers training classes where prisoners can learn a new trade-off skill, Lester shared. He added that the program also has a user-friendly application within its website that allows families to write an electronic letter to their loved ones within one facility. The facility will then share the message electronically or print it. This allows families to connect with their loved ones in an easier way, while keeping drugs hidden inside physical letters away, the letter said. Lester.Lester told WXII 12 News that he hopes his program can help everyone not only inmates, but also their loved ones. “Kids, kids. I hope the next generation reaps the benefits of tik tok innovation to help their parents, elder brother, their sister or their uncle and reduce the re-entry rate for repeat offenders. I hope we will be able to change lives from generation to generation.” WXII 12 News also spoke to Troy Graves, who attended the event, to better understand how the program affected him. He shared the following statement: “Dwayne Lester is the type of person who goes far and wide to help those in need. His faith is about giving people a second chance and an opportunity to be successful in life. Me. He has helped me a lot for the opportunities in my life,” Graves said. “Tik-Tok Innovation is a program that is needed. It helps people to focus on the positive things in life. Like employment and education.” WXII 12 News also contacted and Estella D. Patterson, Raleigh’s chief of police, who is talking with Lester about his schedule. She sent the following statement: “I met Mr. and Mrs. Lester earlier this year and was deeply impressed by their commitment to providing services to one of our most vulnerable populations. Those released from prison often have reliable and reputable services. Tik Tok Innovation provides such services. They are a blessing to the community!” To know more about Tik Tok Innovations, please click here.

A North Carolina man created a program that aims to help prisoners with their mental health and transition to positive lives.

Dwayne Lester, Jr. created TIC Toc (TeaHe IEnside Cconnections to family members and friends, TeaHe heyOutside CConnections for Residents) Innovations, LLC in 2013. The mission of the program is to “offer a program for correctional facilities that allows residents to have a second chance through our mentorship and job placement training program.”

Lester said the idea came about when he was first arrested after getting dozens of parking and speeding tickets and when his brother was arrested.

“I felt like a beast,” Lester described his experience. “I felt like I had no authority, and I felt limited to the point where I wasn’t able to do anything… makes me feel helpless or hopeless for him (brother) to do anything.” For him not to be able to.”

tik toc innovation, llc logo

Lester said the program is currently being used at a correctional facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.

He said it is made up of many people who have been arrested, and understand what it’s like to be inside a detention/correction facility. He said it allows him to create a program that works, while understanding what may not work. He added that program leaders also ask for feedback from the public and current inmates to ensure that the program continues to evolve, and is meeting the needs of the community.

“Listening to the public. Listening to the prisoners,” he shared. “A lot of our services are driven by inmates’ opinions. That’s what works. That’s what works. It doesn’t work. The worst part is to create a schedule for an experience they’ve never had “

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He said that the program focuses on the following key services:

  • mental health
  • job training
  • Connecting family with loved ones within one facility

Lester added mental illness is one of the many reasons a prisoner commits a crime, and it cannot be ignored. She said the program works with outside mental health agencies to help inmates understand their feelings, what triggers them, and how they can manage their emotional concerns and recover from them.

“You can give a person a car, clothes, money. You can give them everything they need to survive, but the mental health piece is the most important and essential,” Lester said.

Photo of prisoners participating in the program

He said, “It (mental health) is the root cause of many crimes and activities because it is something that I thought I had to do with thought. It is mental health. It has to be under control. It has to be treated. Ignore it. can not be done.”

The program also offers training classes where prisoners can learn a new trade-off skill, Lester shared.

He added that the program also has a user-friendly application within its website that allows families to write an electronic letter to their loved ones within one facility. The facility will then share the message electronically or print it. The letter said it allows families to connect with their loved ones in an easier way, while keeping drugs hidden inside physical letters away.

Photo of prisoners participating in the program

“This is a service we’re trying to implement for a society that has lost its way to care,” Lester said.

Lester told WXII 12 News that he hopes his program can help not only prisoners, but their loved ones as well.

“Kids, kids. I hope the next generation reaps the benefits of tik tok innovation to help their parents, elder brother, their sister or their uncle and reduce the re-entry rate for repeat offenders. I hope we will be able to change lives from generation to generation.”

WXII 12 News also spoke to event attendee Troy Graves by phone to better understand how the event affected him. He shared the following statement:

“Dwayne Lester is the type of person who goes far and wide to help those in need. His faith is about giving people a second chance and an opportunity to succeed in life. For me he has made a great difference in my life. Has helped me with opportunities,” Graves said. “Tik-Tok Innovation is a program that is needed. It helps people to focus on the positive things in life. Like employment and education.”

WXII 12 News also contacted and spoke to Raleigh Police Chief Estella D. Patterson, who has been talking with Lester about his schedule. He sent the following statement:

“I met Mr. and Mrs. Lester earlier this year and was completely impressed by their commitment to providing services to one of our most vulnerable populations. Those released from captivity often lack reliable and reputable services. Tik Tok Innovation provides such services. They are a blessing to the community!”

To know more about Tik Tok Innovation, please Click here.

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