Work Readiness for Previously Incarcerated Youth

Summary

Funds to provide DC teens recently released from jail with a one-week paid internship to learn employment readiness skills and gain the confidence to start a positive new life back in the community.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Free Minds serves youth incarcerated in the DC Jail. These young men return to the community with little or no job experience and a criminal record which exacerbates the many challenges they face. This project gives them the opportunity to gain basic yet invaluable employment readiness skills as well as their first paycheck and assistance in their job search.

How will this project solve this problem?

Interns will perform administrative tasks while learning basic job readiness skills and gaining important training. The project can greatly boost their confidence while affording them with one work experience and reference for their resume.

Potential Long Term Impact

This project will enable Free Minds to nurture and sustain the trusting relationships first developed with youth at the DC Jail, and grant youth confidence they need to pursue employment and education instead of crime.

Project Message

"My internship with Free Minds helped me to pick up useful skills for the workforce. I loved being in a peaceful environment and working with friends! Now I have something important on my resume."
- Delonte Johnson, Free Minds Book Club Member/Recent Intern

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources