Where Are They Now?  Ready for a Change:  Getting out of prison, off the streets and off welfare.

Are you involved with any of the "unconventional" programs that provide construction trades education to men and women looking to make a new start?  Do you use your local workforce center to recruit?  These potential employee sources represent your tax dollars at work – it’s smart business to develop a working relationship with organizations who are paid to work for you.

Second Chances  They’re documented, drug-free, and fit.  They’ve got a high school diploma or GED and an OSHA 10 hour card.  They’ve learned to weld, lay brick, frame, and/or do concrete work.  Many have completed the first year NCCER core and carpenter’s apprenticeship curriculum.  They can turn their studies into credits towards a degree at a community college where they will add to their construction skills using the scholarship they earn upon graduation.  They’re coming out of a military-style correctional program with three areas of emphasis:  academics, vocational education, and sports.  Graduates of Ridge View Academy (a privately operated Colorado Department of Youth Corrections facility) have some issues – how many of your employees don’t?  But these kids have skills and they need a chance.  Help them figure out their transportation problems and put them to work.  Oh, yeah – they could earn your company up to $2,400 in tax credits over their first 400 hours of work. Contact John Lee, head of the trades program, and go out for a visit – you’ll be impressed. jlee@riteofpassage.com, 303-766-3000 x1419.

Other correctional facilities have trades programs, sending "graduates" out into the world with valuable skills.  The John C. Inmann Work and Family Center in Denver works to connect them with employers.  The Center works with employers to provide screening, placement and support services.  Contact Johanna Palasek at 303-825-1115 x23 for info.

Mile High Youth Corps’ YouthBuild program targets low-income, out-of-school 18-24 year olds.  Partnering this fall with the Denver Housing Authority and Milender White Construction Company, YouthBuild participants will work at DHA’s multi-family Park Avenue project.  From October through February twenty four participants will spend half their time on the jobsite, half in the classroom to complete GEDs, OSHA and CPR/first aid certifications, a basic electrical skills class, and life skills training.  You can help by hiring graduates, partnering on a future project, or contributing money.  Info at www.milehighyouthcorps.org  or contact Shanda Vangas at 303-433-1206 x 24 or shandav@mhyc.net. 

Mi Casa Resource Center for Women offers twelve week Construction Readiness training sessions for low income women including single mothers looking to become self-sufficient after being on welfare.  Participants receive basic construction skills education, job readiness training, and job search assistance.  Success stories from the past two years include over fifty women placed in a wide variety of jobs:  electrical apprentices, carpenters, drivers, operators, flaggers, and laborers for companies like Castle Rock Construction, PAR Electric, Palace Construction, Mortenson, Haselden and TIC. Hire Mi Casa graduates:  they’re motivated and excited.  Contact Rachelle Yarbrough, 303-539-5623, ryarbrough@micasadenver.org.

Hoping to tap into the pool of returning veterans?  Wondering about the tax credit and employee bonding programs available to you when you give an ex-offender or welfare mom that "second chance"?  What about the Work Training Experiences program, where the center screens, selects and pays a young person to intern for your company?  Interested in participating in job fairs?  Check out the "Business Services" menu on the Jefferson County Workforce Center website at www.jeffcoworkforce.org for a great example of services you can access – for free.  Find your area’s Workforce Center at http://www.coworkforce.com/emp/wfcs.asp. 

Not hiring?  Invite Empowercom, Inc. to bid on the next project you do that includes cable assemblies, fiber optics, and related manufacturing and installation work.  Most of the 10 year old company’s 22 employees are ex-offenders.  Information is available from Terri Jackson, co-owner, at 303-292-3850. See the August 18, 2007 Denver Post article about the company at http://www.denverpost.com/allewis/ci_6654438. 

All of these programs bottleneck at the same place finding enough employers to hire their clients.  Are your concerns about construction workforce development serious enough that you’re ready to think outside the want ads?  Support the programs that are spending your tax dollars to educate your future workforce.  Hire from unconventional sources.

Cathy Rock can be reached at 303-914-6513, email at:  cathy.rock@rrcc.edu

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