CHERRY HILL – In 2009, Lisette Morales was living the American dream.
“I was making six figures, had a white picket fence house, two children, a dog,” Morales explained to those recently gathered at Christ Our Light Catholic Church.
Her employer that provided her income, however, “was a dishonest mortgage company.” She tried going to the police, “but I was already too involved, and the company was raided.”
On June 6 of that year, “I was no longer Lisette Morales, but now inmate 69628.”
After eight years in prison, she was released to a halfway house in Philadelphia. “New city, no job, no family support. It was a scary situation,” she remembered.
In stepped Baker Industries, a nonprofit workplace development program, which since 1980, has helped more than 12,000 vulnerable and hard-to-employ individuals like Morales rebuild their lives and find meaningful work.
Beginning work in an administrative position at Baker, “I was making $7.25 an hour, but it was an honest $7.25 an hour,” she said. “I was given a chance to prove myself. Because of Baker Industries, I could forgive myself. I had purpose and hope.”
Today, Morales continues with Baker but in a new role, as a senior production manager.
Morales was just one of the presenters the evening of July 16 to give a testimonial on how to rejoin the workforce, and society, after incarceration. The event was hosted by the Diocese’s Office of Life & Justice Ministries and the Catholic Community of Christ Our Light.
Dr. Michael Sims, director of Life & Justice Ministries, praised Baker Industries’ work “to put love in action” and model Catholic social teaching. “No matter where we are, we can help people find their place.”
With locations in Philadelphia and Malvern, Baker Industries combines paid work assignments with training and coaching, and teaches skills such as goals setting, problem-solving, resilience, managing conflict, leadership, teamwork, communication and effective transition. The nonprofit partners with well-known companies to employee people in areas like packaging products and warehouse/distribution services.
“Baker provides a supportive environment where people can [not only] rebuild their lives and skills, but rebuild their own image and self-worth,” said Nicholas Watson, Baker Industries president.
In addition to individuals who are on parole or probation, the program helps those with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities; those with substance use disorder and the homeless.
Employing about 60 people at any given time, Watson said, Baker “is the only job where our goal for you is to leave [Baker]” and find gainful employment elsewhere.
In 2023, 55 of its 196 workforce program participants moved on to better employment. With an average starting wage of $15.36 an hour, these individuals found local jobs in manufacturing, warehousing, retail, food service and healthcare.
Another of these success stories is Nathaniel Bunday. Incarcerated for almost 30 years, he spent nine months at Baker Industries. He said he didn’t have a bank account or know how to use a credit card when he was released from prison. Today, he is appreciative for the program and has full-time employment at a tableware-making company.
For those in a similar situation to her own or that of Bunday, Morales shares some advice. “Show people the person you are today, not the person you were in the past, and your next opportunity will follow.”
The Diocese’s faithful, leaders and laity alike, expressed appreciation for getting to know about Baker Industries, and pledged to help spread the word its mission.
“Their work needs to be known, so people who are downtrodden can have a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Kathleen Giampetro, a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults minister from Christ Our Light who attended the event with some of her catechumens.
Julie DeMareo, the parish’s pastoral associate for Justice and Community Outreach, praised the organization for “living such a clear example of our Church’s call to provide dignified work for all.”
“It was amazing to hear Lisette and Nate speak so personally about how Baker has been key to their personal and professional growth. I hope as more people in South Jersey hear about Baker’s mission, we see more small businesses work with them and their graduates to keep expanding this network of inclusion,” she said.
Dr. Sims also appreciated the stories of Morales and Bunday and the good works of Baker Industries. “[They] found a welcome environment where they can get back on their feet and not just be productive members of society, but better people.” Like the company, he said, “Catholics can make a difference to those they encounter.”
For more information on Baker Industries, visit bakerindustries.org.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
