The City of Los Angeles’ New Roads to Second Chances Transitional Work Program is on pace to meet its goal, already placing 264 formerly incarcerated Angelenos on a path to full-time employment.

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Reentry was awarded a three-year, $8.9 million contract with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to help stabilize more than 1,300 formerly incarcerated men and women by providing them with transitional employment, job training, and other resources that put them on pathways to careers. Chrysalis was selected to administer the program in July 2016.

“People shouldn’t be defined by the past or their circumstances — we need to support them with a mind toward the future,” said Mayor Garcetti. “I’m going to keep pushing to make sure that every Angeleno has the opportunity to get good-paying jobs and build lasting careers.”

Program participants begin with a 90-day training session, where they participate in employment readiness workshops, life skills guidance, and interview preparation. During the training process, participants start their active job search and perform community beautification work, for which they are paid the prevailing minimum wage. In total, New Roads work crews have collected 123,367 bags of trash, significantly contributing to beautification efforts in the City and County.

“The New Roads Program has taken up the important work of investing in residents with some of the highest need: those returning home from incarceration,” said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “With the combination of supportive services and permanent employment placement, New Roads is a great model for public investment done right.”

“Last fiscal year, Caltrans picked up enough litter to fill more than 8,300 garbage trucks, and picking up all that litter cost the taxpayers $76 million – that’s just what Caltrans spent,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Caltrans is proud to partner with the city of Los Angeles to help parolees who paid their dues be productive and help us address this litter problem.”

“New Roads to Second Chances has created an avenue toward employment for those who need a fair chance,” said Mark Loranger, President & CEO of Chrysalis. “A job means dignity, respect, and the opportunity for family reconnection. The ripple effect of stable employment is significant.  It has a positive impact on families, the community, and society in general through lower rates of unemployment, homelessness and recidivism.”

Mayor Garcetti has put a special focus on creating new opportunities for underserved populations in Los Angeles, including Angelenos who have served time in jail or prison and need help getting a new start. In June 2017, Los Angeles won a $6 million state Prop. 47 grant — the full amount requested by his Office of Reentry — to launch Project imPACT, to offer counseling and legal support to formerly incarcerated Angelenos.

Last year, Mayor Garcetti formed a Blue Ribbon Commission on Employment Equity — an alliance of private and public sector employers committed to providing opportunities for the formerly incarcerated and others who have been historically excluded from upwardly-mobile jobs.  In addition, the Mayor has held Fair Chance Hiring Fairs and launched a pilot with 70millionjobs.comto facilitate employment for Angelenos with past criminal justice involvement.

Angelenos interested in joining the ‘New Roads to Second Chances’ program can attend orientation at one of Chrysalis’ three locations, Monday – Thursday at 8:00 AM. More information is available at: http://www.changelives.org/roads/