New vocational school opens on former prison site

POLKTON, NC — A former prison is being transformed into an educational facility with the goal of breaking the cycle of intergenerational incarceration.

The 5&2 Trade School is located in a former prison in Anson County and is believed to be the first prison in the United States to be converted into a trade school.

The school offers students whose parents were or are incarcerated free training in areas such as welding, auto repair and culinary arts to help them transition into successful careers.

Cyril Prabhu is the founder of Proverbs226, a Charlotte-based nonprofit dedicated to changing the course of young people's lives. He has helped close nearly 20 prisons across the state.

The vocational school is run by Prabhu’s non-profit organization.

He says these efforts, made possible by countless partners and volunteers, are giving more children a chance at a better life.

“Our idea is to break this cycle by giving these children a chance,” said Prabhu.

Numerous reports indicate that 85% of imprisoned juveniles come from fatherless families.

Prabhu says this school is about changing that.

“Education is so important. There is a huge correlation between education and incarceration in this country. Education is one of the tools we can give them,” he said.

Prabhu says the school also helps address the labor shortage.

“My mission is to save one million children from a future behind bars, and this school will help them gain important craft skills and practical experience,” he said in a separate statement.

Prabhu is passionate about helping young people end intergenerational incarceration. Like many other young people, he grew up without a father.

But Prabhu says he managed to overcome all adversities because people stood behind him.

“There have been many people in my life who have thrown me the rope, so it's time for me to throw the same rope to someone else,” he said.

The grand opening of the 5&2 Trade School campus will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday at 1019 Old Prison Camp Road in Polkton. During the ceremony, Old Prison Camp Road will be renamed 101 Break the Cycle Drive.

The school is scheduled to open in the fall for its first class, starting with 12 young men in the welding program.