"Everyone deserves a second chance:" Ex-convicts get back into the workforce with 'The New Man Project'

WAUKESHA -- Life can be a challenge for felons integrating back into general society. FOX6 News looks deeper into the life with the "felon" label.

"The wood soothes me. It helps my anxiety greatly," said Tony Nowakowski.

Nowakowski spent eight years in prison. He has masonry skills and through "The New Man Project" in Waukesha, he's learning another.

"I believe everyone deserves a second chance," said Nowakowski.

The New Man Project, a non-profit, Christian-based organization, helps ex-convicts learn job skills through woodworking and making custom and handcrafted furniture.

"When their skills are high enough, we believe that they can succeed on their own. They'll use their machinery and they'll use their wood. They'll build product. We'll sell product for them and when they get enough to live on then we'll launch businesses for them," said Mike Oberbrunner, The New Man Project executive director.

Nowakowski is doing well on the outside, but he knows others carrying the felon label who are having a tough time finding work and housing -- and some simply give up.

"And then they just forget it. Whatever happens happens. It's easier on the inside. It's really not easy on the inside, but you have no responsibility," said Nowakowski.

Oberbrunner says society has to be willing to provide jobs, education and skill training to ex-convicts for them to become productive members of society.

"You know, there's so many things against them when they first come out. They face an unemployment rate around 65%. Only 6% of them have driver's licenses so it's very difficult for them to be mobile and get jobs," said Oberbrunner.

Oberbrunner says if they are not helped, they number of ex-convicts returning to prison will continue to be high, and with that comes a high cost to taxpayers.

For more information on The New Man Project, CLICK HERE.