In a unique venture that may be the only one of its kind in the country, MongtomeryWorks of Montgomery County, Md. sponsors a One-Stop Career Center at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in the town of Boyds. Operated by Workforce […]
Emphasizing strengths can help ex-offenders find employment
As job developers, when you deal with ex-offenders it’s important to assess them using a strength-based process rather than beginning with the many barriers they face. Or so says Larry Robbin, a nationally known expert in the area of workforce […]
Kindness can help you in your job search and your life
While kindness may not be a qualification listed on too many job descriptions, being kind to others and to yourself will go a long way toward making you attractive as a potential employee and a person others will want to […]
Home of Chicken & Waffles’ Derreck Johnson creates recipe for success
There’s no denying that hiring ex-offenders can be challenging, but more people have to do it if we’re ever going to lower the recidivism rate. And maybe they would if they listened to Derreck Johnson, owner of San Francisco Bay […]
Stanford law student helps female ex-offenders launch businesses
With so many barriers to employment, many ex-offenders find that starting their own business provides a better option than working for someone else. While entrepreneurship has its own challenges, those with creative ideas and determination can succeed, perhaps with a […]
Ban the box gains victory at Oakland Army Base redevelopment project
The latest victory in the movement to “ban the box” comes courtesy of local activists in Oakland, Calif. It will affect the application forms for the nearly 5,000 employees who will be hired to work on the soon-to-be-redeveloped 366-acre site […]
Using the radar approach to help clients achieve job retention
Helping your client get a job is not enough. That’s just the first step in the process. The biggest challenge is job retention, and job developers need to train both employees and employers on how to help those with barriers […]
The Pentorship Program encourages entrepreneurship among inmates
Kristen Daniel, an MBA student at Georgia Tech, has created a unique organization to inspire inmates to think about becoming entrepreneurs upon their release. The Pentorship Program, a startup nonprofit, aims to pair inmates with entrepreneurs, who communicate by email […]
Canine Companions program helps prisoners learn responsibility
Although it’s not exactly job training, a program that pairs puppies with prisoner handlers teaches responsibility, patience and commitment, skills needed for future employment. And the experience may eventually lead some inmates to jobs working with animals. The program, operated […]
How to find the funds to be able to start a small business
Creating your own business can involve some startup costs, so keep that in mind. You may need to invest in equipment, tools, supplies, advertising and office space. Some jobs might require a truck to haul things around. Make a list […]