Pioneering program accelerates economic mobility for those coming out of prison
One out of three American adults - more than 70 million people - have some type of criminal record, which for many presents obstacles to them from earning a living wage. For the 600,000 people reentering their communities each year, the barriers to employment are the highest within the first two years of release. They face challenges to provide for their families, establish credit, and earn enough money to get their basic needs met. Nearly half of those leaving prison in the US are unemployed one year later, and among those who do find work, half earn less than $10,090 a year, or less than a full-time job at minimum wage. Yet good jobs are there if the right training and support are in place.
Our latest grant partners with the tech-enabled nonprofit FreeWorld to expand the reach of a pioneering program that not only addresses the challenges of employment for those who have been in prison, but does so by filling critical employment gaps in the US supply chain.
The American Trucking Association estimates that 1.1M new drivers are needed to keep up with current economic demand. These jobs pay an average of $60K per year, a strong wage for those who are open to the trucking lifestyle. Moreover, the lack of drivers with a class A commercial driver’s license (CDL-A) exacerbates the US’s supply chain crisis and drives up costs for consumers.
FreeWorld forms deep connections with people who have been impacted by the criminal legal system. The organization leverages its full-stack, automated, online solution to address most major roadblocks of the reentry experience. It provides students with online and in-person training for the CDL-A license, wrap-around support for up to three years post-program, and thought leadership to improve the re-entry experience.
Our $375,000 grant will support the enrollment of formerly incarcerated individuals in CDL-A classes and placement into stable trucking careers and fund the development of FreeWorld’s data infrastructure to track outcomes over time. Additionally, FreeWorld will leverage its rich data to collaborate with state and local governments utilizing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) Act and other funding mechanisms, increasing impact and lowering the organization’s training and placement costs to scale the number of people served.
The GitLab Foundation is excited to test and learn how organizations leverage data and technology platforms to lower employment barriers faced by historically marginalized populations.
Return on Investment
152x ROI
This project is estimated to increase annual earnings by $46,000 per person, for a total additional lifetime earnings of $1,351,488 per person
Total lifetime earnings increase across all participants: $231,104,377
$375,000 invested
