LEXINGTON, Ky. — Goodwill Industries and youth-anti-violence advocates One Lexington are giving young adults with criminal records a second chance.

Ezhaunaai Ighodaro is a 25-year-old participant in Goodwill’s Life Launch: Ignite Lexington’s second-chance program.

“Goodwill is a great program, especially for younger adults who are struggling, trying to get back into the community after doing a couple of unfortunate things to their lives,” Ighodaro said.

Its goal is to help young adults who are or were in the criminal justice system. Their mission is to encourage career readiness and prevent repeated behavior. 

Ighodaro says the program can be a gateway into opportunities that otherwise may not be available. 

“I do know that like most jobs, they do not like felons working for them because they do not trust them,” Ighodaro said. “But Goodwill, they are partnered with a lot of jobs, and have some good jobs and for decent too.”

Several community groups like Voices of Hope, Lextran, UK’s Focus and others showed up to offer ways to help. 

“Goodwill is joining One Lexington, a group that caters to kids and young adults in Lexington who deal with factors that put them at risk,” explained Hannah Said with Goodwill Industries. “We want to be seen, we want to draw people in, we wanna show people what we do and just kind of talk to them.”

Ighodaro says the resources have shown excellent results.

“Don’t ever feel like your record or your background is stopping you from being something in life,” they said. “Goodwill will let you know that you’re not alone. Goodwill will build you up or they will help you build yourself up.”