In 2016, Michigan’s Department of Corrections launched Vocational Village to provide individuals in prison with the skills, training and opportunities needed to build productive lives after release. Today, the program celebrates its 10th anniversary and continues to prepare participants for careers in the skilled trades, including union carpentry.
Operating in three locations, Vocational Village supports more than 400 students pursuing careers in trades such as carpentry, masonry, concrete, welding and automotive technology. Participants live together in a dedicated unit designed to create a positive learning environment centered on accountability, education and personal growth. Their days mirror a typical workday outside of prison, combining hands-on training, classroom instruction and industry-recognized certifications.
For Ichard Oden, Vocational Village provided the foundation for a new career and a promising reentry into his community.
“I decided to invest in me. I ended up going to Vocational Village, and when I got out, I called the Carpenters Union,” Oden said. “Three days later I went to work, and I’ve been working ever since.”
Ichard understands the value of the opportunity he received.
“A lot of people in prison don’t get a second chance,” he said. “To be able to learn a trade, leave prison, and build a productive life instead of a destructive one means everything.”
Vocational Village goes beyond career training by helping participants overcome barriers to success through financial education, driver’s education and life skills training. A partnership with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also helps eligible graduates expedite the restoration of their driver’s licenses, removing a key barrier to employment.
The Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters is proud to support Vocational Village through our Career Connections curriculum, which prepares participants for apprenticeships in carpentry, millwrighting and floor covering. We also build relationships with participants and connect graduates with employers, creating a clear and reliable pathway for returning citizens to enter rewarding union careers.
And the results speak for themselves.
The recidivism rate for Vocational Village graduates is less than 1%, and for those who enter the Carpenters Union, it is 0%. Compared to Michigan’s overall reported recidivism rate of 21% in 2025, these outcomes show the power of training, opportunity and support in reducing crime and changing lives.
Ichard is proof of that impact. Now, two years after completing his apprenticeship, he continues to see the value of Vocational Village and the life it helped him earn.
As we celebrate Vocational Village’s broader success, watch Ichard share his story and the impact the program had on him in his own words.
Tom Lutz is executive secretary-treasurer of the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters.
Labor Voices
Labor Voices columns are written on a rotating basis by United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, Michigan Education Association President Chandra Madafferi, Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters Executive Secretary-Treasurer Tom Lutz and selected Service Employees International Union members.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: How Vocational Village is changing lives through skilled trades | Labor Voices
Reporting by Tom Lutz / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tom Lutz | USA TODAY Network
