The Re-Entry Program at Community Action Pioneer Valley in Greenfield offers vital support, demonstrating that with the right resources, second chances can lead to meaningful change and new opportunities.
After being in and out of the prison system for nearly half of his life, Luis Mercier-Torres is now working towards building a new life and on the path of becoming a man that his family and his children can feel proud of. “It really has been a new beginning for me, both professionally and in my personal life,” says Luis.
It was through the Re-Entry Program at Community Action Pioneer Valley in Greenfield that Luis began a transformative journey, proving that with the proper support, second chances can lead to extraordinary outcomes. “This program was eye-opening,” Luis says.
“To me, these programs are essential for people like me who struggle and just don’t have a chance. Being able to participate has been a lifechanging event where I didn’t think it would do much, and I am now looked at as a different person in society; it changed my personality, and I would really recommend it for people who are trying to change their life and get on a career path,” said Luis.
Community Action’s Re-Entry Program offers a holistic approach to workforce training and development for returning citizens. Participants, often referred by parole officers, step-down facilities, or shelters, receive wraparound support that begins with meeting their immediate needs—such as food, clothing, and transportation—before moving on to job skills training and placement.
“We serve individuals facing serious barriers like homelessness, and we make sure their basic needs are met at the start,” says Nafeeza Castro, Workforce Development Manager at Community Action. “Then we help them build long-term skills with resume workshops, mock interviews, and certification programs. It’s a real-life, real-time approach, and we’re there for them every step of the way.”
The organization partners with Greenfield Community College (GCC), Holyoke Community College (HCC), MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center, and MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board to offer training in culinary and manufacturing. Participants enroll in training programs at HCC as line cooks or GCC for manufacturing production, earn certifications like OSHA and Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative (MACWIC) credentials, and are placed in paid on-the-job training with local employer partners.
Luis enrolled in the manufacturing training program at GCC, where he earned his OSHA certification and MACWIC credentials. These certifications, combined with hands-on practice and mock interviews, helped him gain confidence and prepare for the workforce. “The program gave me the confidence to show that I am reliable and capable of achieving something higher,” he says. “It taught me how to navigate resources and present myself in interviews.”
Today, Luis holds two stable jobs: one as a production worker at the Western Mass Food Processing Center—an opportunity he was able to obtain thanks to Community Action—and another job as a cashier and shipping/receiving associate at Green Fields Market. For someone who had previously never held steady employment, these accomplishments mark a profound change in Luis’s life. “I didn’t expect for my life to be the way that it is now,” he says.
The impact of the program goes far beyond professional success. Luis is now reconnecting with his children, searching for a new apartment, and redefining his role as a father and community member. “I’ve learned to be reliable and trustworthy,” he says. “I’m earning respect and love from my family, and I’m grateful for this new start.” Reflecting on his past, Luis shares how the program helped him break free from the tough exterior he had developed during his years in the system. “I had a hard, street-life mentality. This program made me break that character and become more personable,” he says. “It opened up a side of me I didn’t even know was there. I am forever grateful to them.”
With stable employment, certifications, and a renewed sense of self-worth, Luis is ready to embrace his role as a father and contributor to his community. “I’m now looked at as a different person in society,” he says. “I’ve changed my personality and my outlook on life. I realized that I couldn’t let my past define or make up who I am. I can change. I have learned to be reliable and truthful, and all I can say is that I am forever grateful for a new start.”
Now, embracing a fresh start, he looks forward to being a present father for his children. “I really look forward to being there and seeing my kids on the weekends because they live close,” he said.
PT 
ES 
EN 
ZH