Reentry

Kansas Gov. Kelly Tours Businesses to Talk Reentry

By Sheridan Watson

December 11, 2019

In December 2019, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly met in Leavenworth, KS, with three businesses that provide employment opportunities to men serving their sentences at Lansing Correctional Facility.

During her tour, Gov. Kelly spoke with men participating in these programs and learned more about how these private-public partnerships work from owners and CEOs at Henke Manufacturing, Heatron, Inc., and Zephyr Products, Inc.

Following the visit, Gov. Kelly facilitated a roundtable discussion with employers from across the state who partner with the Kansas Department of Corrections to provide employment opportunities for people who are incarcerated.

Watch the full video of her visit, arranged through the Face to Face initiative and produced with support from Arnold Ventures.

As I talk with business leaders around the state, one thing I hear consistently is that we have a workforce shortage in Kansas. By partnering with businesses to train incarcerated people in needed skills, we can both help those businesses get the workers they need, and help people who are released to have a stable, good-paying job – which will reduce recidivism rates and improve public safety. It’s a win-win.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly