>> These people are hard working.

They have the skills.

They just need a chance.

>> A program that's filling jobs, giving people second chances.

>> Anything from a quarter horse to a gated horse to a miniature horse.

You name it all.

The horses I want in my facility.

I want to be able to help every single burst.

>> And how a young entrepreneur is giving course is in need of care.

Some extra love and attention.

>> I'm not going to go in touch a lot of lives.

So that makes it all worth it.

>> And you'll meet some pops with a purpose and the special group of women who trained.

>> Production of Kentucky edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to a special episode of Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

>> From starting a new life after addiction or incarceration to giving new life to land one surface mind or that was a historic building in disrepair.

The idea of second chances was a common theme among several of the stories we did this Kentucky edition.

We begin with the Fair Chance Academy, a program designed to increase the state's workforce participation rate while supporting people who were previously incarcerated.

We're covering from substance abuse.

>> We have a significant amount of individuals that could be working but aren't working.

So, you know, one population that we want to think about when we.

>> When we dive into our workforce participation and why it's low substance use disorder the incarceration rates of our state really are at the top of the list in terms of why our workforce participation is lower.

So the Fair Chance Academy really is a 3 day immersive experience for employers who are motivated, engaged and ready to hire from these populations.

I think it's important for businesses to understand that we have an untapped talent.

>> And those who are justice involved and it's really important for companies to realize that your past should not be an indicator of your present and future success.

And that's what this academy helps sort of digest, which is great.

So we have individuals that are in active recovery.

They come in.

They speak to the employers.

They discuss the barriers that they're facing and how an employer can maybe ease their transition them into the workforce.

And then the very first day we do a re-entry simulation with department of Corrections where they're able to speak with incarcerated individuals that are getting ready to come out which is really impactful To reducing recidivism.

So we've spoken to individuals that our 3 months to be released and every single person says having a job before I get released.

Helps need to make better decisions.

People in recovery want to work.

People who are reentering the community from being justice involved want to work.

It's that they can get because they are facing so many different challenges because they have so many requirements placed on them that maybe they have to show up to a probation office for good reason.

But they still have to show up there.

They have to go to court ordered treatment or they have to do and go undergo lots of different supervision hours.

These are all things that are important that they have to do is a part of their rehabilitation or their role.

But because they are also required to work an 8 hour shift that may be a barrier that's placed on them so they can't work at that job, creating these opportunities where we can like figure out, OK, so what's really going on like, what are the things that we can do to help support you?

So that way you can be here.

Maybe it's a four-day work week and that way on the 5th day, you can go take care of all your supervision and treatment opportunities in needs so that way you can then work all the 4 days that we need you, right?

So are there things that your company or business can do to help alleviate some of those pressures that that really great and talented employee can offer your company.

These people are hard working.

They have the skills they just need a chance to prove.

I and I think the the Fair Chance Academy, we've been able to break down those barriers, break down those stigmas where now employers are eager.

We've seen 96% of our employers are ready and willing to hire individuals coming out of incarceration.

We've seen over 100 individuals being hired from recovery center's into sustainable jobs.

But that starts a lot of times with the and changing a lot of their practices.

But the talents there and they're ready to work.

Richmond couple is also helping those recovering from addiction.

>> Murray and Mike Saint John operate the Richmond-based Transitional Recovery Center's known as Corbyn's House and Jasmine's House.

The mission is a personal one for the couple who know firsthand what it's like to go through recovery.

>> When I got home, I was all alone.

>> And >> was I was done with a walk-off.

And the only thing that stopped me was the fact that my daughter.

Who would be the only one to find me dead.

She would be the only one I find that the arm and my body on the floor.

And I couldn't leave her with that.

They sent me to the hope sooner went on 12/8/2015.

been sober ever since.

>> I know I just give up on life I was going to commit suicide.

I got time off push the needle.

My mom walked in and she you hurt me enough.

This is it.

Get your stuff.

Get out of my house and don't come back.

But I got dropped off election at the Hope Center of the merger and I was scared.

That was my God moment.

And I had a long-term treatment at the Hope Center spent 6 months in long term long-term treatment.

I had a sponsor.

I want the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Toronto's something was about this recovery stuff.

I KET that something was real at that.

I KET something was watching over me that's what I fully mountain.

How can we help people in Madison County?

We love helping people.

We've been in Richmond and, you know, I know the road to recovery inside Madison County Jail.

You got to go back and help people and give back all Israeli given to us.

>> When you drive through town and you've got these homeless people and you've got people in the jail that don't have nowhere to go when they get out of jail for, you know, possession charges and, you know, I'd come home to Marina summary.

Let's try you know, let's try to open up some recovery homes.

You know, I believe people coming out of jail off the street or wants Hale.

That they should be welcomed at home when they get there.

>> I know has a sober replace gave me the tools to stay sober, but I didn't really know how to live life.

You know, out here in the streets again.

So I actually Micah peer support at the JOC all the time where I go to meetings that I got her number and I decided to go they're sober living the Jasmine's house.

So I could get accountability.

So, you know, they could teach me how to live again, you know, because I didn't really know what I was doing.

>> It's just amazing.

The set by.

And what somebody coming in.

Robust and discussed it with nothing.

And to see them says Steele take suggestions.

Go to class good job.

Get their license.

That guitar.

Complete the program, move out of the apartment.

That's what it's seeing these peer supports ran around like crazy.

>> For us, you know, doing whatever they possibly can to make sure that we're OK, make sure we're fed make sure that we have everything we need.

Make sure we go see a doctor.

You know, the only person did that was my mom.

so that I was like, man, you know, like that's exactly what I want to do.

You know, want to give back.

>> Recovery.

A lot of people are making it about things that it shouldn't be about.

What it should be about.

Is the people that walk through the doors.

That's what it's about.

Finally moved out of place.

>> I got a Add everything up right about that.

I never really thought I could do ever, you know, I love my life.

>> A group of artists and craftsmen in Knott County wants to help Kentuckians for Japan after recovery.

They called the culture of Recovery program that's offering more than just a creative outlet.

>> The culture of recovery was created to mitigate recidivism by teaching the arts to people in recovery.

It's important because there are so many people in this region in Rico that the region is in recovery.

I'm and this >> I was scoliosis.

Spina bifida.

It is really easy for me.

That time heals from a doctor wanted hard to get her come, the less likely a to resort commitment.

And that's what we had a cut, not a law C 3 had well, I've got to re had a it was a program that in place for you guys.

Murray hadn't 1000 record to kind of learn a new skill you know, get to back out into society and a show them, you know Thank you to be You doing something creative and a structure.

One of the most powerful needs and this community.

for jobs.

>> another one that probably was even more urgent.

addiction recovery and the need for.

People to find opportunity and acceptance and in completing recovery.

And we decided that we would bring groups is.

And struck them in our 3 students.

And that way you know, we would enhance their chances of recovering, you know, having a successful.

And we have.

Well, when we first started, we were really I'm wondering ourselves, you know, if this would be of any effect, if it would, if it really work, you know, if we could pull it off, even I mean, we were not.

You know, when a therapist were were craftspeople August.

And when we when we dug into, we started to get a lot of response.

Resonated.

Pretty deeply 3 have as a is a great good environment to recover.

>> But having someone to put yourself in that gives you something to do with your hands, KET you occupied.

>> For me, that is the most important thing.

There's no instant gratification.

>> And guitar, me.

We have to work at it day after day week after week to get this piece just right.

So when you buy into that, when you commit to that.

It starts to take the place of some of the other things that you've been focused.

I certainly didn't understand the the scope of it until support and I guess gratitude for just.

Caring enough about these people to work with them.

You you know, starting point and the place is no judgment upon people.

That's coming from a.

>> A lot of addiction.

He sees the opportunity encourage >> that individual to we only find the skills to maybe a career-high.

The just to encourage better themselves.

>> You know, it's been so long.

You know, their experience has been so negative.

You know, it.

It's one hurdle that they crossed just.

When they decide that, you know, I can do this.

You know, and listen, I'm proud every time what I see somebody, you know.

>> It's a new use for surface mine land in eastern Kentucky.

Thousands of acres in Perry County are being taken over by sheep.

The goal of the large-scale sheep grazing project to have a positive impact on the land and the economy in the region.

There is a transition that's occurring across the coal fields of eastern Kentucky the cold based economy to something else.

The Southeast, Kentucky Sheep Producers Association or sex.

But is promoting the sheep industry.

We have a large scale open range sheep grazing project here in Perry County, Kentucky has a a proof of concept or a demonstration to show folks that it's very possible.

It's economically feasible to graze sheep and goats and so forth on open range surface mines.

About a dozen sheep farmers, Eastern Kentucky contributed to this large flaw that we have here.

We have a full-time herder who stays with the shape.

24 7 hand guards against predators and he puts the sheet up at into a night corral and he provides them with water and sees 2 their You know, from one green pastor to the pretty most the coordinator and the Herd manager at manages the flaw and tell us that works for me most the time.

There's no more than 2 watching over the flaw.

>> But we have the 3 guard out to watch over their flock to and then we have heard and all that helps bring shape, moved to shoot from one spot to the next.

>> I'm working Patrick annual for probably a good 3 or 4 months.

And they came this to me.

Probably 2 months ago when I got that offer and I was like, yeah, the state here now and not brought in the sea.

>> I'm a retired from strip Mining Co.

I actually worked on this job here about 15 years ago when we first reported and I would like to say some sustainable income come back to people here.

One of the greatest days, it is so much land around it right now.

That's not being utilized.

And I feel like if people could learn means they could start taking care of yourself more raising sheep is not for everybody.

And it's certainly not a silver bullet for the social economic woes.

>> Of the mountain people, but he could possibly be one of the many silver buckshot we that will help the people make the transition from a coal based economy to something else.

Next steps after this project is to double in and to go to other locations and KET helling people with the productivity potential is here before.

There was a Kentucky fried chicken.

There was Kentucky Spring Lamb.

Kentucky was known for the lambs that came out to the steep s**** mountains of eastern Kentucky.

And so we're hoping that the large-scale sheep operations that we have here on these reclaim surface mines.

We'll provide the supply we'll meet the demand for Kentucky Spring Lamb in the future.

It was once a hub of activity in Bowling Green, believed to have hosted entertainers like Little Richard and Tina Turner.

But over the last several years, the southern queen has fallen into disrepair.

Now the city owns the property.

And as our Laura Rogers explains, he's welcoming ideas for the best path forward.

I had a lot of history.

It.

>> As a young girl that George Washington Carver well out to the Girl Scouts sharing.

Cosby was born and raised in the Shake Rag neighborhood of Bowling Green.

There's just a generation that has missed out on the history part of the history belongs to the Southern Queen Hotel built in 19.

0, 6.

It served black travelers who are unable to stay in Bowling Green's white hotels.

It's also in the Green book and that's a publication that tells you where.

>> People of color cuts safely stay in.

You know, in the constable.

The property has sat vacant over the past couple of decades falling into disrepair.

It's a shame.

>> The condition the place getting in.

But now there are plans to restore the home to its former glory.

The idea is for the city to award it to a private developer.

>> That has the best plan to benefit the neighborhood and the community of Bowling Green overall.

Just to preserve.

The peaceful and quiet need to send that.

The parody of it because and to me, it was just >> a very nice place.

Cosby says she has fond memories of spending time at the home as a young girl.

And when I was a girl Scout, we used to go over there we would have it.

It can't listen.

Also known as the Covington Moses home.

It started as a boarding house before becoming a hotel.

We've been hearing ideas for maybe reviving the hotel has a hotel again and turning it back into more of like an Airbnb, a kind of hotel.

>> Or maybe a bed and breakfast.

We've heard ideas of maybe an events, space serving new space.

>> This is pretty cool that 3 goals city workers went inside the building this summer to stabilize it and clean out and save what they could.

>> We've cataloged over 800 items mostly like school, Samara, family albums, photos, documents, some furniture Butler says they will work with local museums to preserve those historical items.

>> She says their efforts this summer drew the attention of locals King memories.

There were.

>> People that lived in that neighborhood who just happened to notice and they would come by and say?

>> Well, I remember we did this here in this there and this there.

And they just started.

>> Pouring out these stories stories that we're otherwise maybe last.

They hope the next owner will save those stories by giving the once elaborate home and hotel new life.

>> I want it to the beacon.

Grateful that things are kind of turned it around to this area.

Continues in a good direction for Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

The committee will choose the best idea.

>> And the DEA will be handed over for one dollar.

To Barron County where Murray State University graduate is offering one of the few places in Kentucky to provide therapy for horses.

Our Laura Rogers paid a visit to her new facility to learn more.

>> Jordan Berry's love for horses began in childhood.

>> I work with horses my entire life.

I've been riding horses was a little girl that.

>> Ashen Ledbury to pursue a bachelor of science degree.

An animal technology with an emphasis in equine science.

She also completed a certification program in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

I saw that my horses needed a lot of therapy and I want my horses to be the best of the best.

So I was like, how can I help myself as well as others?

Our knowledge is extensive equine Protozoa Malo, a satellite us.

>> It can either be very, very deadly or not deadly at all.

It can either attack the nervous system or the muscle system.

>> Today she's using her education and experience to provide therapy for horses who are sick.

>> And injured, especially in this community.

There's a lot races I go on a lot, of course shows and I know there's a lot of horses are out there that need help.

>> Courses, like I said, who has a broken leg with the first 2 weeks facility.

His split now has actually cast back together.

So we are actually in the healing process.

We're ready with a broken tail bone, getting a workout on the underwater treadmill.

Cause Hudson, awful Pacer.

Plus, it is a unit.

So it's basically an underwater treadmill.

These horses get on and go to work.

>> It just seems to just my courses blossom.

I've seen a lot of pictures that she had done when she was at an Oklahoma working with the horses you could tale such a difference.

>> Kitty is getting pulsed electromagnetic field.

Their fate since Pulse electro through the Copper Kohl's.

And it brings oxygenated blood flow throughout the war.

So it basically makes a horse feel really, really good tips.

Both sides, a very family are in the horse and history support from relatives like her grandmother as helpful in launching her careers as a young ad entrepreneur.

I know she's doing good things for horses at scene.

People are more considered of the horses and I were at one time.

They want the horses to be in good shape.

They want the horses to form with.

>> Berry says horse owners don't need a referral from a veterinarian for her care.

>> But she does work closely with vets to make sure a horse gets the best course of treatment.

Horses come in for pre and post-surgery care.

Any type of extra fitness at the horse might me.

So the horse doesn't actually have to come in for rehab.

They can come in just for fitness at the horse is a little.

>> On unfit solder on the little heavier side and they need to slim down a little bit.

That's definitely a big reason.

Therese future plans include training kids and teens who have an interest and horses and agriculture.

She's really, really interested in bringing the U thing in the 4 H FFA.

I would love to be able to teach younger generations.

Hey, like this, is there be this is needed to KET your horse going to.

>> Make your horses perform the best.

She says it is rewarding to see improvement and the horses, health and her hard work pay off.

It's a sense of peace to be able for them to just trust me enough to work on them, too.

Basically care for them.

It's all around just the best feeling to be around a horse for Kentucky edition.

>> I'm Laura Rogers.

>> A Louisville based nonprofit is giving inmates a chance to make a difference.

Paws with a purpose works with inmates to train service dogs.

We spoke with one inmate going through the program and she says helping others has made a positive change in her life.

>> Paws with purpose, trains and places highly skilled assistance, tides and the Louisville and surrounding area in Kentucky.

These dogs are placed with individuals with mobility, disabilities or are placed in facilities such as hospitals, therapeutic environment.

Our training program is centered around to correctional institutions where the inmates are primary trainers for the dogs.

What is that Kentucky Correctional Institution for women in Peewee Valley and the Federal Medical Center facility in Lexington.

So pretty.

I've been in the program a little over 2 years.

This program taught me a lot about, you know, the haters of dogs and how to train through those figures came in here thinking that, you know, I have probably know everything because >> I had a dogs out there and this is totally different.

They're trying to like lift and lower the paddles on that wheelchairs.

They can take your shoes off.

Take your coat off there.

Just a trend.

A lot just to be able to help somebody that is disable paws with places.

The dogs into the training environment beginning around a 2 to 10 weeks of >> development and they usually stay in the program until around 18 months to 2 years during the work week.

>> The inmates are the primary trainers and then on the weekends they go with volunteers so that they're exposed to more things in the public sector like children, crowds, cars, things that they wouldn't get in the prison program.

Stand.

>> Kylie is my first stop ready to go.

National Tennessee is you've got to start working on their feet and it is going to be a little bittersweet.

>> But yeah, I'm not going to go in touch a lot of lives.

So that makes it all worth it.

>> When the dogs start off as a as a puppy in 8 weeks and to then see the progress that they make in one year's time.

It's very rewarding for them to build their confidence.

It builds personal skills.

It takes away some of the loneliness.

I don't feel like I'm in prison.

This has become part of my life and I will continue when I get out of here.

>> I'm going to actually university and I'm trying to get my degree.

And sociology so I can become a Christian counselor and I am one open.

A halfway house for drug addicts.

And what I'm going to do is incorporate the U.S. that dog training and try to get these people, you know, some kind of statement Bility and they're like to be able to, you know, make a just a just thankful to God that he's allowed me to be a part of this program because it hasn't affected my life tremendously.

>> We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, stern Five-thirty Central for Kentucky.

Addition for we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips a K E T Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

Send us a story idea of public affairs at KET Dot Org and follow KET on Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

Thank you for joining us.

Take good care and have a great night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪