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SUNY Potsdam Workshop Gives Participants Hands-On Insight into Re-Entry Challenges

SUNY Potsdam Hosts Re-Entry Simulation to Build Understanding of Challenges Facing Formerly Incarcerated Students

Potsdam, NY (04/20/2026) — SUNY Potsdam recently hosted a Re-Entry Simulation Workshop for faculty, staff, students and community partners, offering participants a firsthand look at the obstacles formerly incarcerated individuals face when returning to communities.

The high-impact workshop, held April 13 in the Barrington Student Union, was sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and the Potsdam@RCF program. The experience simulated the first weeks in the life of a person navigating re-entry after incarceration. Participants encountered challenges related to securing employment and housing, accessing transportation, meeting parole requirements, managing family responsibilities and balancing competing demands -- conditions commonly faced by returning citizens.

It's a highly relevant topic for the campus and community, as a number of students from SUNY Potsdam's Potsdam@RCF program at Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg, N.Y., have come to the main campus to complete their degrees as part of their own re-entry journeys. The College, program alumni and community partners are working to help support those students as they complete their studies and rebuild their lives.

The session was facilitated by Trent Griffin-Braaf, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and workforce development leader with his own lived experience of incarceration and re-entry. Through the immersive simulation, Griffin-Braaf encouraged participants to rethink assumptions, deepen empathy and strengthen institutional readiness to support justice-impacted students. Griffin-Braaf is the founder of Tech Valley Shuttle and was named the 2023 Small Business Person of the Year for New York State by the U.S. Small Business Administration. His company has been recognized as the Best Place to Work for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, reflecting his commitment to inclusive workforce development and second-chance hiring practices.

Following the simulation event, Griffin-Braaf continued his visit by leading a Career Development Workshop for students enrolled in SUNY Potsdam's baccalaureate applied sociology program at Riverview Correctional.

The career-focused session equipped students with tools to prepare for life after release, including job readiness strategies, employment pathways, entrepreneurship, financial decision-making and career mapping. Griffin-Braaf guided students in identifying transferable skills, building confidence, and connecting their academic experiences to post-release opportunities. The workshop blended motivational storytelling with practical guidance on employer expectations, resume development, and personal and professional identity growth.

Griffin-Braaf also shared his Roadmap to Success framework, leaving students with clear next steps and actionable strategies aligned with today's workforce demands.

The session was sponsored by SUNY Potsdam's Lougheed Center for Applied Learning, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Office of the Provost.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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Media Attachments

A person at a podium stands in front of a screen showing a presentation. The slide is about employment and workforce development.

Trent Griffin-Braaf, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and workforce development leader, leads a workshop at SUNY Potsdam on the challenges that incarcerated individuals face as they re-enter society.

SUNY Potsdam alumnus Brandon Rodriguez stands in front of a brick college building.

For students like Brandon Rodriguez ’24, there were many issues to navigate when transitioning to full-time studies on the SUNY Potsdam campus after being released from Riverview Correctional Facility.

Edgardo Aponte, right, has a conversation with SUNY Potsdam Professor Dr. Nancy Lewis while pursuing his degree in sociology at RCF.

Graduates throw their mortarboards into the air during a Commencement ceremony.

Students celebrate during the inaugural Commencement ceremony at RCF in 2023 (Photo credit: Ayisha Khalid ’24).

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