This Sunday, Full Circle Service Center Director, Nikki Zaahir and former automotive intern, Anthony Watkins will appear on the WJZ-13 public affairs show, On Time. On-air anchor, Tracey Leong is the host of the show that highlights local community organizations, events and programs. This Sunday’s show will focus on the success of the Vehicles for Change (VFC) prison reentry internship program and its unprecedented recidivism rate.
Zaahir is the director of the internship program and makes frequent visits to the five prisons in Maryland in order to recruit for the program. While inside, future recruits must take an automotive class and be referred by their instructor. Once their qualifications are met, it is not uncommon for returning citizens coming home to make Vehicles for Change their first stop because it represents a hope and a second chance. It is also highly regarded as a program that places their interns in jobs within the automotive field.
Anthony Watkins is a stellar example of how far one can go when they take the program seriously. Watkins had been out of prison for four months when he came into the program in September of 2015. He credits the internship program for saving his life, after a lifetime of getting in trouble and being in and out of prison.
The program gave him hands-on experience with cars, ASE certifications and the opportunity to meet a community of people who care for his personal and professional growth. He is now a Master Certified Inspector for Fleetrpo in Arbutus. Watkins is just one of the people who has been served by the program. Find out more about the program this Sunday on WJZ-TV 13 at 6:30am.
Former Full Circle automotive intern, Anthony Watkins enjoying himself on the set at WJZ with Meteorologist Tim Williams
