The Foundry's Work Therapy Program Strives to Restore Normalcy

 

Ramon Arias serves the president of a Bravo Corporation, a successful pizza franchise based in Birmingham, Alabama. Outside of his professional life, Ramon Arias is very active in working with The Foundry, a rescue mission and recovery center aimed at helping drug addicts and ex-convicts recover a life of normalcy.

The Foundry believes work is a valuable and crucial part of recovery, giving residents the chance to learn new skills, work towards goals, build relationships and structure, and develop discipline. The Foundry achieves this by providing multiple job opportunities to those who participate in its programs.

The Foundry owns multiple businesses they use to aid in the recovery process. The SuperThrift Outlet thrift stores provide employees the opportunity to work in a retail setting, while the group’s auto sales and service jobs train employees in everything from car maintenance and repairs, to sales. The Foundry also offers various general jobs, including food service work, administrative support, and maintenance jobs.

While the Foundry’s work therapy programs strive to help people regain a normal life, the people in the program end up helping the Foundry too. Nearly 70 percent of the recovery center and rescue mission’s budget is raised through their various work therapy enterprises.

The Importance of The Foundry Ministries’ Re-Entry Program

 

Ramon Arias serves as the president of Bravo Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama. Outside of his work, Ramon Arias remains devoted to giving back to the greater Birmingham, Alabama, community through The Foundry, a program that provides services to formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals. One of the most important programs at The Foundry is the Re-Entry Program.

Each year, thousands of men are released from prisons in Alabama and face the challenge of reintegrating in the community. This transition can prove extremely difficult and a support system is often necessary. The Foundry provides such support with a six-month program that helps men successfully navigate the transition. For the first part of the program, men live at The Foundry and have their physical needs met as they obtain all the legal documents they need for reestablishing their lives. During this period, they participate in counseling, adult education courses, and life-skills classes.

Once the men are eligible for work and find a position, they pay a stipend for room and board. Upon finishing the program, they move to transitional housing where they continue to receive support and have accountability while they seek out a permanent home.