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GREEN COVE SPRINGS – John got out of the Clay County Jail on Tuesday. After spending months incarcerated, he was eager to get to the Polk County correctional facility to take an important step in his life.

This time, however, John would be entering – and leaving – on the free side of the bars. No more striped jumpsuits. No more lockdowns. No more open showers. Freedom.

John is one of three at the jail who just completed a program called IN2WORK, which teaches inmates the necessary skills to gain meaningful employment in the food industry. The program is designed to provide inmates a bridge between a responsible future and away from the vicious cycle that usually ends up with another lengthy sentence as a repeat offender.

John set up a job interview while he was an inmate. He hopes to take the skills – and confidence – he learned in the program to help run the commissary at the Polk County Jail.

Another graduate, JuanDavid, has been offered a job in Miami to work in Aramark’s warehouse.

Justin, who’s not scheduled to be released until June, knows he faces a promising future once he’s released.

“I can’t change what I did, but I can re-write my wrong,” Justin said. “You don’t have to be in the past. You can be in the future. Here I am to learn from this.”

The rigorous eight-week IN2WORK program is offered by Aramark, the company which has the food preparation contract at the jail. Aramark’s Maryanna McCray and Patty Atkinson, the Program Unit Supervisor at the jail, realized offering inmates a path to success would decrease their chances of getting in trouble again.

“I was approached by Maryanna McCray,” Atkinson said. “She sent me a PowerPoint, showing me how they teach the different cooking techniques. They had to learn about customer service skills, and then get enough training where they can take the state certification test. The state certification gives them safe service, which helps them get a position like an assistant manager of a restaurant.

“I love the idea because I really want people to leave here better than when they came in.”

All three earned their ServSafe certificates, a state-level diploma that assures they’ve been trained to properly handle food and alcohol.

“This was to better our skills, to give us a better understanding how everything works,” JuanDavid said. “Ms. McCray gave us the opportunity, not just on the level of management, but how to supervise certain equipment, how to supervise a crew, how to do things more efficient and better.”

JuanDavid, who will be released within a month, said it was important to focus on a promising future than dwelling on a regrettable past.

“This is a great program because Clay County does not have re-entry services,” he said. “You have to think: what are you guys in here for? Even a misdemeanor can hold you up. They’re very hard on the sentencing part here. You can lose any kind of stability in the first 30 days you’re in here. If you’ve been in here for an x-amount of time and you don’t have any re-entry services, this gives us an opportunity to re-enter back into society.

“We have job interviews. In my situation, I’m a father. That’s one of the biggest elements for us is that we can go out there and gain the ability so that we can meet our responsibilities, to accel after a bad episode.”

The class wasn’t easy, McCray and Atkinson said. Eight started, but only three made the final cut. Their final exam required them to make several delectable desserts like chocolate mousse and tarts.

“We set the standard high here,” McCray said. “They can only go up.”

“The main reason why is to better my education and my skills,” John said. “I’ve already been in the food and beverage industry and hospitality part of everything. I felt like if I’m going to be here, make the best of the situation. The simple matter of the fact is, I will be leaving here with a certificate – and the opportunity to feel like I did something with myself while I was incarcerated.”

And the freedom to go home when the workday is done.

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