DOVER, DE- The ReEntry Delaware: Community Resource, Employment, & Expungement Fair was held Friday at Wilmington University's Dover campus, offering a fresh opportunity for those seeking to rebuild their lives and re-enter society.
The event, designed to support justice-involved individuals, including veterans, connected attendees with job opportunities, legal services, and other essential resources to help them reintegrate successfully.
Charles Wright, a 70-year-old disabled Air Force veteran, came to the fair hoping to build a better future.
"I'm interested in coming back to school. So I was talking to the recruiter here to come back to the university."
For Wright, the event meant more than learning about available programs—it represented a chance to start over.
"As far as education-wise, I believe that you have a mindset. You can learn. So that's why I'm interested in doing it, even if I have to take one step at a time."
The fair featured a range of services from dozens of agencies and organizations, offering everything from job opportunities to legal assistance to help people like Wright get back on their feet.
Malone Harmon, founder of ReEntry Delaware, emphasized the event's mission to support those transitioning back into society.
"Everyone has a story about a situation. And now that we are addressing the transition as well as returning citizens, we now collectively believe that we have a bigger, much more effective support group around us."
Harmon, a veteran himself, said his commitment to helping others stems from his own military experience.
"It's part of our military code, right? No veteran left behind. I continue to still serve, and I think we should not leave them behind."
The event also featured an expungement clinic, helping attendees determine if they qualify to clear their records—a step that could remove barriers to housing, education, and employment.
Lisa Minutolo, from the Delaware Office of Defense Services, explained that providing services like these is about more than just immediate help—it's about long-term success.
"We really try to help them with events throughout their whole life that led up to them coming into the system, so that they don't come back into the system again."
ReEntry Delaware says more events are planned for the future and encourages those interested to visit their website for more details.