AZ Group to use $1 mil grant to help ex-cons find jobs

By Audrie Garrison
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 4, 2007 12:00 AM

PHOENIX - An Arizona non-profit organization focused on helping women find employment was awarded a $1 million federal grant Tuesday.

Arizona Women's Education and Employment Inc. will use the money from the U.S. Department of Labor to help men and women between the ages of 18 and 29 who have been in prison find employment. The group was one of five agencies across the country to receive a grant.

"Our goal is to keep people out of prison with this program," said Marie Sullivan, its president and CEO.

Sullivan said the non-profit already does some work with ex-offenders, but that this program will incorporate other faith-based and community organizations. She said the group will provide guidance, technical assistance and money to its partners in the project.

Rhonda Bannard, a spokeswoman for the non-profit, said the U.S. Department of Labor said that the target group of 18- to 29-year-old ex-offenders is an important pool of laborers.

"What they did is they identified this group and said they weren't really being served, and yet, they're a key group," Bannard said. "With the slowing down of the workforce opportunities, they really need to be tapped into."

Sullivan said the program will be target toward Maricopa County residents. She said it will reach out to members through the Department of Corrections and parole officers, as well as the community and faith-based groups they will be partnering with.

Sullivan said the organization helps ex-offenders find jobs both by coaching them in resume-writing and interviewing and by identifying employers who can and will hire people who have spent time in prison.

"We'll work with employers, but we don't actually hand someone a job," she said.

The other grant recipients were Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment, the City of Chicago, the Indianapolis Private Industry Council Inc. and the Director's Council of Des Moines, Iowa.

All five entities will do some sort of project that will help 18- to 29-year-old ex-offenders find jobs.