New Wake Partners Reentry Grant Awards
CAWD is pleased to announce the newest recipients of the 2023 Wake Partners Reentry Grants. These organizations have decades of experience supporting adults, youth, and communities impacted by justice system involvement. We awarded $67,263.50 to support the important work they do for the community. Below is each organization’s mission and the services they provide.
Dress for Success Triangle NC ($3,342.50)
The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help women thrive in work and life. Dress for Success Triangle will serve 50 women via their job acquisition class, The Going Places Network. Classes are tailored to meet the needs of clients at the NC Correctional Institution for Women to help prepare them for the job search process when reentering the community. Members of the class are involved with small group work, mock interviews, and one-on-one coaching. Skilled presenters, coaches, and mentors help clients uncover strengths, build interview skills, confidence, and a network of support. Dress for Success Triangle partners with over 40 Triangle businesses to provide 500 mock interviews every year.
Extended Hands of North Carolina, Inc. ($15,223)
The mission of Extended Hands of North Carolina, Inc. is to serve as a Resource-Referral agency to citizens returning from incarceration in penal institutions and juvenile facilities of all ages. Extended Hands will provide 100 returning citizens with life skills and customer service skills training to help them attain and maintain employment in various customer service roles as well as ensure that their basic needs are met. Extended Hands will offer in-person integrated classroom settings and online training workshops through “SkillzTutor”. Sessions cover topics such as job readiness training, customer service training, time management skill training, resume creation and interviewing skills.
Generation UpLift ($25,000)
The mission of Generation UpLift is to address the mounting issues and needs of at-risk, troubled youth through mentoring, offering contemporary programs and initiatives that provide opportunities and experiences that encourage academic and personal growth. The CHANCES Project will serve 40 youth via bi-weekly 90 minutes sessions over a six-eight week span. Generation UpLift will provide a culturally enriching environment of support and camaraderie for all participants in our program. Generation UpLift tackles many academic, social, and personal needs. We will provide workshops that fully equip and prepare participants for life after incarceration and tailor-made programs on school campuses that increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates.
Pardoned By Christ ($10,430)
The mission of Pardoned By Christ is to restore lives affected by incarceration. To restore individuals and their families to our communities through in prison, transitional, and community programs. Transitional programming is established through multiple residential housing facilities. Community volunteers and partner agencies provide spiritual, life skills, employment, and transportation assistance. Our vision is to expand our transitional housing program throughout the triangle area and the state of North Carolina. The project will provide 14 adult male returning citizens in 4 transitional houses with services including mentoring, coaching, case management, life skills training, computer knowledge and navigation, financial budgeting, bank/app navigation, resume and job application development, and job placement services. Partners include the Division of Adult Corrections’ case managers, probation/parole, chaplains, Reentry Councils as referral sources, and a community network to help secure permanent housing.
Telamon Corporation ($13,268)
The mission of Telamon is to provide educational services that lead to better jobs, better lives, and better communities. Telamon’s project will provide 65 returning citizens with education on budgeting, financial management, credit establishment/restoration, fair housing, fair lending, housing and non-housing related guides, one-on-one financial coaching, free tri-merge credit reports and FICO scores, voluntary financial support groups, quarterly workshops, and community-partner referrals. HUD-certified housing and social work professionals develop course curricula and customized programming. All Housing and Financial Empowerment programs are offered at no cost to the participant. Successful program graduates will receive a graduation certificate, a “Swag Bag,” a money lock box, and a complimentary year’s worth of PocketGuard Plus, an expense-tracking, budgeting, and debt-reduction app.
Congratulations to the awardees and we look forward to the client success stories that will surely come from your efforts.
If you have questions about Wake Partners reentry grants, Jasmin Volkel at 919-665-8535 or [email protected].