James Allen hummed a joyous song of freedom Wednesday as he brushed the final coat of paint on a refinished rocking chair.

The joy is evident in melody pushed though his lips below his graying moustache. He’s happy to be at work, to reclaim his life, and to have a feeling of purpose.

The 59-year-old convicted felon is one of two ex-cons participating in the new Arthur Street Inc. rehabilitation program, which opened a store Wednesday at 1117 Openwood St.

“We will teach vocational skills, life skills, social skills and Bible,” said Betty C. Quinn, president of the nonprofit.

Allen can only speculate as to what he would do without Arthur Street.

“You know what I’d probably be doing — sitting at home watching TV and seeing what my ex-old lady wanted to argue about,” Allen said.

Allen pleaded guilty to embezzlement in 2010. He was sentenced to five years’ probation, but couldn’t afford to pay his fines and fees after the odd jobs he worked dried up.

“Fortunately for me, Mr. and Mrs. Quinn came about with an organization to help people like myself,” he said.

Betty C. Quinn and her husband, Albert, founded the program after visiting the Delancey Street Foundation in San Francisco. Delancey Street Foundation was founded in 1971, and more than 10,000 addicts, felons and homeless persons have gone though the program, which runs a popular restaurant, one of California’s largest moving services and others businesses. It is widely considered to be one of the most successful rehabilitation programs in the country.

“When we came back to Mississippi, I determined we would bring this thing to Vicksburg,” she said.

Betty Quinn met this week with Jim Harper of Hinds Community College’s Small Business Development Center.

“He and I decided to partner and we are going to as best we can start buying up the buildings on Openwood Street and opening small businesses,” Betty Quinn said.

The nonprofit also plans to offer GED classes and business training for participants.

The fledgling program has already had its first success story.

Russell G. White began working with the Quinns about six months ago after meeting them at a halfway house in Jackson. On Wednesday morning, he took a big first step as he found a job renovating houses.

Albert Quinn said he was proud of Wright’s accomplishments and had already seen a change in him.

“It’s been phenomenal in terms of their growth,” Albert Quinn said. “James and Russell are like family. We have dinner together. It’s just like family.”

The Dallas native was convicted of forgery in Hinds County in 2009. He was released on parole in 2011, but when he didn’t report to his parole officer, he was sent back to prison.

Upon his release from prison, he was living in a halfway house in Jackson.

“I was looking to change my life, and the bad baggage I was carrying around,” White said.

The Arthur Street program offered White the change he had been looking for and will be a great asset for “guys like me who don’t have anywhere to go and don’t have anything,” he said. Without it, he feels he would be unemployed and virtually unemployable because of felony conviction.

“I’d be back at my Mom and Dad’s house, probably looking for employment,” he said.

White is trained as a machinist, but many jobs in his field have moved overseas, making it tough for him to find work in his field with a criminal record.

“It’s constantly on your mind. Once you catch a felony, employers see it and they won’t hire you,” White said.

As the program grows, Albert Quinn said, housing will be provided for more participants. Initially those in the program will work for one of the nonprofit’s businesses. Once they get a job, they will pay rent and the rest of their check will be put into a savings account.

“As soon as we can get housing available, we can bring more in,” Albert Quinn said.