MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WSBT) — A new grant is looking to change lives for some young adults in Michigan City.
Young people who’ve been in detention centers or prison have a new shot at a steady job, with help even after that.
This is even for young people who were expelled in high school and are still trying to find a career that’s a good fit.
In Michigan City, a new system may just be able to undo the old school-to-prison pipeline.
Instead of the old domino effect, where trouble in school leads to trouble with the law, program directors at WorkOne added a pipeline to the workforce regardless of an imperfect record with the courts.
“So if they’ve been involved in any adult corrections, any kind of adult criminal background, they would be qualified,” said Ivone Gonzalez, GoGrant program manager.
That’s even if they’ve been expelled from school.
A new grant is looking to change lives for some young adults in Michigan City. (WSBT Video)
Ages 18 to 24 now have a new row of dominoes on the table.
Those who create a chain reaction of support instead of punishment.
The free program gives young adults an assessment to learn what they care about, a job site to develop skills in that industry and a paycheck for every hour worked.
“We have violence prevention that we work with as well. So we’re doing the mentoring, the violence prevention he’s doing, what we call the 220 program, which is an online program that self-guided that actually will help him with financial literacy,” said Gonzalez.
Building a resume, interviewing, and leadership training all come before placing candidates with their job sites.
If they never received a diploma, there’s help for that, too.
Trouble with transportation or getting supplies and gear for the new job? Covered.
“We help them with, once they do get placed in a work experience, we help them with, we pay for tools if they need that, right? If they’re like, hey, they need these specific tools, we pay for that. If they needed, say, they went into like a medical thing, we would help pay for like the scrubs, the work attire that they need,” said Gonzalez.
Program directors told me they’re working with the mayor’s office, the Salvation Army and several other non-profits to get referrals to the growth opportunity grant.
To learn more about the program, view the information above.