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THE CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in New York City is one of the many programs that help ex-offenders prepare for, find, and keep jobs. CEO’s program is a two-step process for participants. The Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP) offers immediate short-term employment through day labor programs. Participants provide general building maintenance, ground keeping services through out New York, and at the same time, build work skills on the job like getting to work on time. NWP participants are also involved in the Vocational Development Program (VDP). Upon arriving at CEO, individuals attend a week long life skills and pre-employment workshop. Participants learn how to create a resume, basic interview
skills, and how to discuss their conviction with potential employers. On the last day of the workshop, participants work with an individual employment counselor to develop an employment plan and evaluate their vocational skills and interests. While enrolled in NWP, participants work for four days and meet with their counselor once a week. CEO has placed participants in more than 300 companies and maintains a 65 percent placement rate.

EMBASSY SUITES

Embassy Suites is a firm believer in second chances. Embassy Suites has hired several ex-offenders from different programs, and was encouraged to hire individuals with criminal records because of the support systems in place. The company felt secure because they were not just “out there” hiring, Embassy Suites had the extra help and support they needed.

Ann Sermons was hired in October 1999 as a suite keeper at Embassy Suites after serving 14 months in jail for delivering drugs. Ann knew she had to change her life, that the life she was living was not a positive one. Ann had to be a positive role model for her three children, ages 14, 13, and 8, who currently live with her mother. After two and a half years on the job, Ann enjoys coming to work and making the guests happy, and currently lives in her own apartment, just down the street from her job at Embassy Suites.

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING COUNCIL (PEC)

The Welfare to Work Partnership/BizLink brokered with service providers Tulane/Xavier University and Goodwill to prepare 25 noncustodial fathers, many ex-offenders, for training at Petroleum Engineering Council (PEC) facilities in Hammond,Morgan City, St. Rose and Venice, LA. These jobs have starting salaries from $7 to $15 an hour. A normal workweek usually runs around 84 hours while the offshore rigs are at-sea drilling for oil and natural gas.

BizLink, Tulane/Xavier and Goodwill screened the participants, while BizLink and Tulane/Xavier partnered to purchase tools and uniforms. PEC also covered costs for training to work on oil and natural gas rigs, which normally runs $2,400 per person, accommodations and food for the participants. Participants received a PEC identification card with a list of programs they completed to help on interviews, which began towards the end of training.

The eight days of extensive, hands-on training provides the skills for successful employment on offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, including a basic orientation about life on an oil rig, core compliance information, including fire prevention, hearing conservation, welding and forklift safety, off-shore water survival, first aid and basic rigging techniques.