APPALACHIA STRONG

A WNC REENTRY SYMPOSIUM

Date: April 1^st, 2026

Time: 9:00 - 3:00 pm (Registration from 8:00 - 9:00 am)

Location: The Harrell Center at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center

710 N Lakeshore Dr, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745*

The Western North Carolina Reentry Symposium is a community-centered convening focused on addressing the unique gaps, barriers, and opportunities in rural reentry. Bringing together people with lived experience, service providers, advocates, employers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, the symposium centers practical solutions for housing, workforce access, navigation, recovery support, and systems change. Through panels, workshops, and facilitated discussions, participants will explore what’s missing in our region and co-create strategies that strengthen pathways to stability, dignity, and long-term success after incarceration.

* Please note that typing in this address may come up as Junaluska Gifts and Grounds

Agenda

Come check-in, grab a coffee and some light breakfast items before we get started for the day.
Hear inspirational words from our host and Executive Director of Operation Gateway Philip Cooper, to kick off the day and set the tone.
TOPIC: HOW LIVED EXPERIENCE BECOMES A RURAL REENTRY ASSET
In this keynote, Lester Young, founder of Path2Redemption, will explore what it truly means to close the gap in rural reentry. Drawing from lived experience and years of frontline work, Lester will examine how limited resources, geographic isolation, and systemic barriers uniquely impact returning citizens in rural communities—and how community-led solutions, peer support, and access to opportunity can transform outcomes. This session will challenge participants to rethink reentry through a rural lens and reimagine pathways to stability, dignity, and redemption.
Enjoy a brief break between sessions and check out our vendor tables to learn more about rural reentry resources across WNC.
TBD
Enjoy a brief break between sessions and check out our vendor tables to learn more about rural reentry resources across WNC.
TBD
WHAT WORKS IN RE-ENTRY: APPLYING PROVEN INTEGRATED CARE MODELS TO JUSTICE - INVOLVED POPULATIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Presented by Dr. Corey Richardson
This session will examine what works in re-entry by applying proven, evidence-based integrated care models to justice-involved populations across Western North Carolina. Drawing on Dr. Richardson’s prior success building comprehensive, community-based systems of care, the presentation will explore how opioid settlement funds can be strategically leveraged to create continuity of care from incarceration to community. Attendees will learn how coordinated clinical treatment, medication for opioid use disorder, peer support, harm reduction, recovery housing, and cross-sector partnerships with law enforcement, courts, and community organizations reduce overdose risk, improve engagement in treatment, and lower recidivism. The session emphasizes data-driven decision-making, community engagement, and scalable implementation strategies grounded in real-world outcomes.
TBD
The symposium will conclude with reflections from our host, highlighting key takeaways from the day, honoring the voices and experiences shared, and offering a call to action for continued collaboration. These closing remarks will ground the conversation in purpose, reinforce our collective responsibility, and inspire participants to carry this work forward in their communities.

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Meet The speakers

Lester Young, Jr.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER, FOUNDER OF PATH2REDEMPTION
Lester Young, Jr is a native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. At the age of 19, Mr. Young was given a life sentence (with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years). During his time in prison, Lester struggled with finding redemption and often wondered what his purpose was. While journaling, he asked himself this question: “What is the footprint you want to leave in this world?” It was then that he realized his purpose was to be “that” voice to help at-risk youth. With the warden's approval, Lester, along with the prison chaplain, began meeting to develop outlines, programs, and classes to instruct and mentor fellow incarcerated individuals. This is where the idea of his non-profit organization, “Path2Redemption,” began. On May 15, 2014 (22 years and 5 months later), Lester was released on parole. Even after his release, the outlines of his programs are still being taught in prison. He also received a pardon from the South Carolina Probation and Parole Board in 2020.
Philip Cooper, CCHW IV, CHW-VPP, CPSS

HOST, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION GATEWAY

Philip Cooper is a Western North Carolina Native, an accomplished reentry expert, and a criminal justice reform advocate. He is the Founder and Chief Change Agent of Operation Gateway Inc., whose mission is to decrease recidivism by addressing the social determinants of health of returning citizens. He is the founder of Voices of Affrilachia, which is a state-funded initiative that addresses the behavioral health stigma in the Marginalized Communities of Western North Carolina. He is an MLK Service Award Recipient, the Attorney General’s Dogwood Award Recipient, he is the recipient of the 2024 Recovery Role Model Award for the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina, 2024 Innovator of the Year for SAMHSA, Neighborhood Builder for Bank of America, 2025 TIME Magazine CLOSER Honoree, Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellow, and Leading with Conviction Fellow with Just Leadership USA. He is an ambassador for Just Economics of WNC and is the Pastor of Friends of John Recovery Ministry. Philip believes that those closest to the problem are the closest to the solution and this is why he is fully committed to teaching people how to leverage their lived experience to change the world.
Dr. Corey Richardson, DHSc, MBA, MPAS, LCAS, CCSr.

SESSION SPEAKER, CEO OF INTERGRATED CARE OF GREATER HICKORY
Dr. Richardson is the CEO and Clinical & Education Director of Integrated Care of Greater Hickory (ICGH), a multi-site provider delivering integrated behavioral health and addiction treatment services across inpatient and outpatient settings, along with recovery housing and peer support, throughout North Carolina. A nationally recognized expert in opioid use disorder and justice-involved care, Dr. Richardson has led numerous federal, state, and county initiatives and regularly advises policymakers and communities on evidence-based, community-engaged solutions to the opioid crisis.

Location & Accomodations

The Terrace hotel

Located within the same conference and retreat center as the symposium, the Terrace Hotel is conveniently located just across the street from Harrell Auditorium. The Terrace Hotel is also the location of our catered lunch on the day of the event.

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Lambuth Inn

Located at the same conference and retreat center as the symposium location, the Lambuth Inn is a 1.1-mile walk or a short 5-minute drive to the Harrell Center

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