Rep. Jim Himes was in Bridgeport Tuesday to highlight a program that is working to reduce the rate of recidivism in the state.

EMERGE recently opened a location on Arctic Street.

Their first location is in New Haven.

The construction company and nonprofit organization provides jobs to formerly incarcerated people.

They also offer group therapy and mentoring sessions plus classes on financial literacy, nutrition and parenting.

"We try to use our staff and some of the programs we have to get people to see things differently. Right, we know that a job itself is not enough to keep you out of prison, so we focus more so on the mental health and the healing. So recently we started a yoga class and it was interesting to have guys stretching to relieve stress," says Maurice Keitt, EMERGE's recruitment and outreach coordinator.

EMERGE hopes to expand their program throughout the country.