South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) recently celebrated the early successes of two adults in custody (AICs) who were part of the camp’s first U-PACT cohort. In January 2025, Joseph Belecz and Rodney Abel joined the pilot program, embarking on a journey that would lead them not only to release but to meaningful careers.
With steady encouragement from SFFC staff and fellow AICs, Belecz and Abel were released in April 2025. Thanks to their determination and support from the U-PACT team, they both joined the Ironworkers Union and are now gainfully employed in high-wage, high-benefit careers that offer long-term stability and retirement options.
The U-PACT program has a strong sense of brotherhood among participants. Throughout the cohort, AICs leaned on each other, offering support through challenges and celebrating each other’s progress. By the end of the program, many left with a renewed sense of pride and purpose. Belecz and Abel stood out for the confidence they gained and their determination to rewrite their stories.
Upon release, both men were picked up by U-PACT instructor Santino Wescott and taken directly to the Ironworker union hall. There, they were welcomed into the union and equipped with the resources and tools needed to start their careers.
Today, Belecz is working on multiple job sites and continuing his training, with strong union support and a bright future ahead. Abel is following a similar path, already putting his new skills to work and investing in the life he’s building post-incarceration.
Their journeys are powerful reminders that individuals are not defined by past mistakes. With the right support, opportunity, and mindset, transformation is not only possible—it’s happening.
