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.
Jane Addams Resource Corporation
The Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) Baltimore trains unemployed and/or underemployed Baltimore City residents in welding and computer numerical control (CNC) at the Regional Skills Training Center on Park Heights Avenue in West Baltimore. With funding from the Abell Foundation, students receive hands-on training and earn industry-recognized credentials in a work-like environment. Beyond technical skills training, JARC Baltimore provides employment readiness and financial support services to trainees during and after training. Graduates are placed in jobs earning an average of $16.80 per hour.
Job Opportunities Task Force
The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is an independent nonprofit organization that works to develop and advocate policies and programs to increase the skills, job opportunities, and incomes of low-skill, low-income Maryland workers and job seekers. In partnership with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), JOTF operates Project JumpStart, a pre-apprenticeship construction program that provides low-income Baltimore City residents with 14 weeks of pre-apprenticeship training in plumbing, electrical and carpentry. With funding from the Abell Foundation, Project Jumpstart plans to serve 125 residents over six classes in two locations in Baltimore City. Approximately 80% of those who are enrolled will complete; 75% of those who complete will be placed into employment with wages averaging over $12/hr. For the past two years, 28% of those who are placed into employment have enrolled into the four-year ABC apprenticeship program. First-year apprentices earn between $12 and $16 per hour; with annual increases, by the time an apprentice graduates in four years and obtains journeymen status, he or she is earning $24 to $36 per hour.