Awards provide services for at-risk youth; currently and formerly incarcerated individuals
WASHINGTON – What’s next for the 600,000 people released from federal and state prisons annually, millions more leaving county and local jails, and others in danger of falling into the cycle of poverty, crime and incarceration? With the help of $64.5 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor, the answer for some will soon be in-demand skills, access to good jobs and a stronger foundation of support within their communities.
To address the employment and life challenges faced by many people involved with the criminal justice system, the department is awarding grants to 40 organizations providing services in 26 U.S. states and the District of Columbia through four programs – Reentry Demonstration Projects for Young Adults, Training to Work, Pathways to Justice Careers, and Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release.
“America works best when we field a full team, but far too many people who have been involved with the criminal justice system are being left on the sidelines,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “These grants are an important step in fulfilling our promise as a land of second chances by moving beyond locking people up and instead working together to unlock their potential.”
The grants were part of a series of new actions taken to reduce recidivism and promote reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals announced today by the Obama administration at an event hosted by the Center for American Progress. Secretary Perez joined Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Education Secretary James King, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro at the event.
Reentry Demonstration Project Grantees | City | State | Service Areas |
Amount |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Dannon Project | Birmingham | Ala. | Birmingham, Anniston and Hobson City, Ala.; Florence, S.C. |
$4,500,000 |
Latino Coalition for Community Leadership | Santa Barbara | Calif. | Aurora/Denver, Colo.; Bakersfield, Santa Ana, Long Beach and Los Angeles, Calif. |
$4,500,000 |
Eckerd Youth Alternatives Inc. | Clearwater | Fla. | Washington, D.C.; East Tampa, Fla.; Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell counties, S.C. |
$4,500,000 |
Goodwill Industries International | Rockville | Md. | Austin, Texas; Detroit, Mich.; Houston, Texas; Johnstown, Pa.; New Orleans, La. |
$4,500,000 |
Strive International Inc. | New York | N.Y. | Baltimore, Md.; Hartford, Conn.; New Orleans, La.; New York, N.Y. |
$4,300,000 |
Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America Inc. | Philadelphia | Pa. | NW and SE Minneapolis, Minn.; Miami-Dade County, Fla. |
$4,500,000 |
Centerstone of Tennessee Inc. | Nashville | Tenn. | Carbondale and East St. Louis, Ill. and Nashville, Tenn. |
$4,500,000 |