Greetings!
For most men and women reentering our community from incarceration – returning citizens – the opportunity to secure employment is a critical component of successful reentry. Not only is securing employment generally mandated by the supervising agency, returning citizens need income in order to secure housing and food as well as meet the financial demands placed on them by the criminal justice system. What is a returning citizen to do if employment opportunities are not forthcoming? As my friend and colleague Ike Randolph says, “It is more cost effective to help the returning citizen gain employment than having them in the correctional revolving door”. The opportunity for returning citizens to secure employment quickly upon release is one of the most important public safety measures we can offer.
RecycleForce offers returning citizens the opportunity for immediate employment and paid job training through our transitional job and training program. All of our employees earn 17 OSHA safety certifications that are required in any warehouse, logistics, or similar workplace. They also have the opportunity to secure industry-recognized credentials necessary for consideration for employment in a number of well-paying industries. Throughout returning citizens’ engagement at RecycleForce, we work to help them find permanent employment that will provide a good income, increased responsibilities, and the opportunity for advancement.
Engaged in productive employment and training gives returning citizens a sense of pride and accomplishment, and it sets them up as role models for their children and other family members, other returning citizens, and those in neighborhoods of high poverty, unemployment, and crime. Moreover, it, leads to expanded opportunities as there is much truth to the adage “You have to have a job to get a job.” Please check out our interview with Dwight Cobbs. His story is not unique to RecycleForce, but it a story of change and how being engaged with RecycleForce has led to him down a path of opportunity.
Gregg Keesling
President