The Allstate Foundation Awards Center for Employment Opportunities $1,000,000 to Advance Racial Equity and Support Workforce Development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT
CEO: Joseph Ellick | [email protected] | (305) 879-6722
The award will help provide comprehensive reentry employment services and economic mobility pathways to formerly incarcerated people.
New York, NY -- January 4, 2023 - The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a national nonprofit that provides comprehensive employment services to people returning from jail or prison in 31 cities, is pleased to announce an award of $1,000,000 from The Allstate Foundation. The funding will advance racial equity by supporting CEO’s proven workforce development program.
As the largest provider of reentry employment services in the nation, CEO's strategic plan is focused on helping job seekers with past convictions to access thriving wage jobs with benefits. CEO will upskill their program participants by connecting them with advanced training partners, including union training programs, providing training stipends, and engaging large employers and workforce stakeholders to improve hiring ecosystems for people with past convictions.
"Expanding opportunity and access to good jobs is the hallmark of a strong and vibrant workforce and society. Mass incarceration has disproportionately impacted the lives and career trajectories of Black and brown people. At CEO, we are committed to promoting an inclusive and equitable workforce that works for all by centering our efforts on addressing racial equity and socio-economic mobility for job seekers with past convictions," said Christopher Watler, CEO's Chief External Affairs Officer.
The Allstate Foundation believes in racial equity and aims to close the racial opportunity gap for careers with thriving wages by empowering equitable access to employment for people of color.
“CEO was one of the first organizations we funded when we launched our racial equity and workforce development pillar in 2020,” said Courtenay Barton, Senior Manager of Racial Equity and Workforce for The Allstate Foundation. “This continued investment signifies not just the quality and importance of CEO’s work but how invaluable this partnership has been in growing our understanding of the role that corporate philanthropy can play in increasing access to thriving-wage careers. We are proud to support CEO.”
In addition to immediate employment with daily pay, CEO provides program participants with digital skill building, trades training, and access to in-demand credentials like Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) and IT certifications. These initiatives will allow CEO's program participants to secure well-paying jobs that average $44,000-$66,000 with just 2-4 months of training.
ABOUT CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services exclusively for those recently released from incarceration. CEO currently operates in 31 cities and is dedicated to ensuring that justice-impacted job seekers have opportunities to achieve social and economic mobility. For more information, please visit https://ceoworks.org.
ABOUT THE ALLSTATE FOUNDATION
The Allstate Foundation empowers people and communities so they can thrive. Since 1952, the Foundation has led national programs, partnered with leading organizations and offered grants to local nonprofits to create innovative, long-term solutions for those in need.
