J.F. Ingram State Technical College (ISTC) brought together 135 students and nearly 30 participating organizations at the Draper Resource Fair on Sept. 23, connecting students with community resources and employment opportunities as they prepare for release.
The event gave students an opportunity to speak directly with community representatives, ask questions and learn about services available after incarceration. Students left encouraged by the conversations and connections they made.
“Education and training give our students skills they can put to work,” said ISTC President David Walters. “Connecting them with community partners helps them plan for what comes next. We want students to return home prepared to pursue employment, support their families and build a stable future.”
ISTC resource fairs serve current students and graduates who are within one year of their release or parole consideration date. Connecting with organizations before release gives participants time to identify available support and begin planning for their transition home.
The college tailors its resource and job fairs to the needs of the individuals it serves. Resource fairs emphasize services and support available after incarceration, while job fairs held in partnership with the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) place greater emphasis on employment. Both offer connections to community resources and job opportunities, with each event designed to meet participants where they are in their reentry journey.
Education remains an important part of workforce preparation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2025 unemployment rate for adults age 25 and older was 6.1% for those without a high school diploma, compared with 4.3% for high school graduates. Median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers were $770 and $966, respectively. These national figures provide context for the value of education; they are not measures of ISTC student outcomes.
At Ingram State, classroom instruction, hands-on training and industry-recognized credentials are part of preparing students for employment. Resource fairs build on that preparation by connecting students with organizations that can support their next steps after release.
The Draper Resource Fair reflects the college’s commitment to helping students prepare for life beyond the classroom. Through community partnerships, ISTC works to connect education and training with opportunities that support employment, strengthen families and help students contribute to their communities.