NPower, Inc.
In 2016, with support from the Abell Foundation and others, NPower replicated its IT training program for low-income young adults in Baltimore. NPower’s core training program begins with 15 weeks of classroom instruction that prepares participants for industry certifications. The academic portion focuses on teaching fundamental IT skills, including operating systems, servers, network security, and databases. In addition to receiving instruction and certification in CompTIA A+, students are now receiving instruction and certifications in Cloud Computing, Linux systems administration, network administration, and Windows Server Administration. Following the classroom instruction, NPower participants enter a seven-week paid internship at a local employer, working four days per week, while one day is spent in professional development activities in the classroom. In the coming year, NPower plans to enroll 150 low-income young adults into training, graduating 120 and placing 102 into employment.
Rose Street Community Center
Since February 2000, with support from the Abell Foundation, the Rose Street Community Center (Rose Street) has offered small weekly stipends (no more than $10 a day) to community residents in exchange for participation in daily community cleanups or gang mediation meetings. Last year, Rose Street served more than 120 people per week. Over 20 percent of those served each week (approximately 25 people) reside in Rose Street’s six transitional houses. Those residing in the houses participate daily in community cleanups. Once they have secured employment, Rose Street staff assists them in obtaining permanent housing. Almost half of those served each week (approximately 60 people) are high-risk youth ages 15 to 24. Rose Street holds morning meetings with the youth were the youth identify and de-escalate disputes. Rose Street also connects the youth to programs and services available in the community.
The Work First Foundation
With funding from the Abell Foundation, in 2009, America Works (through its nonprofit Work First Foundation) launched the Baltimore Ex-Offender Reentry Employment Program. The program provides a two-week-long job-readiness workshop for cohorts of six to seven ex-offenders. The program targets ex-offenders under 40 years of age, and those who have been recently released from prison or jail. To date,1,123 ex-offenders have graduated from the two-week training course, with 663 being placed into jobs (a 59 percent job placement rate). Participants earned an average of $9.39 at placement, with 87 percent remaining employed for 30 days, 75 percent remaining employed for 90 days and 65 percent remaining employed for six months or more. Since June 2017, the Baltimore City court system has been referring low-income individuals to the program as they await trial, rather than jailing them because they cannot afford to pay bail. To date, 184 pretrial defendants have enrolled into the program. Of those, 156 have gone to trial, with 82 percent experiencing a positive outcome (they received an acquittal, nolle prosequi, or stet), and 76 being placed into employment.
Year Up Baltimore, Inc.
Year Up Baltimore provides low-income Baltimore high school graduates and GED recipients, ages 18 to 24, with a year of information technology (IT) training, leading to technical careers with starting salaries of $30,000 or higher. During the first six months of the program, participants co-enroll into Baltimore City Community College and Year Up, and are paid weekly stipends to attend IT classes at BCCC’s Liberty Campus. During the second six months of the program, students are placed in paid internships with local partner companies to gain work experience in IT. At the completion of the training, Year Up students earn a BCCC IT Basic Skills Certificate, worth 16 college credits. Approximately 85 percent of graduates are placed into employment and/or continue their education. Over the next year, Year Up plans to increase the number of students served from 153 to 240.
CASH Campaign of Maryland
The CASH Campaign of Maryland (CASH) promotes economic advancement for low-to-moderate income individuals and families in Baltimore and across Maryland. Since 2001, CASH has worked to increase access to the Earned Income Tax Credit, a powerful work incentive and poverty-alleviation tool, lifting more families out of poverty than any other federal aid program. With funding from the Abell Foundation and others, CASH provides 10,000 Baltimore City households with free tax preparation, supporting 18 to 20 free tax preparation sites throughout Baltimore. CASH also works to build the assets of low-wage tax filers by providing financial education and coaching. CASH is also working to establish an Office of Financial Empowerment within Baltimore City government.