By Tiffany Williams –
Worcester’s Regional Reentry Center just scored a national honor — and the City of Worcester wasted no time bragging about it.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Regional Reentry Center was handed the National Community Activism Award from the National Organization for Human Services, and Tuesday night Mayor Joseph Petty and the Worcester City Council rolled out the praise with an official recognition celebrating the program’s person-centered approach to helping people return to the community.
The award is no small nod. The NOHS Community Activism Award is reserved for individuals, groups, and organizations that show serious commitment to the communities they serve, push for equitable access to services, and spark community transformation. In announcing the honor, NOHS pointed to the Center’s leadership, collaboration, and systemic advocacy, calling out the program’s lasting impact on individuals and families throughout Central Massachusetts.
Sheriff Lew Evangelidis made it clear just how far the program has come, noting that it started with “just one employee, a grant, and donated space” before growing into what’s now considered a national model for reentry services.
The Regional Reentry Center offers housing support, mental health and substance use treatment, workforce development, peer recovery coaching, and a wide package of wraparound services — all aimed at helping returning residents put their lives back together, avoid ending up back behind bars, and strengthen communities across Worcester County.