FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dorchester Bay EDC and Boston Workforce and Reentry Coalition Partners Receives $407,337 Award to Create a Job and Training Referral System for Boston Returning Citizens and Low-Income Residents
Media Contact:
Perry B. Newman, [email protected], (617) 533-9551
Chanie Infante, [email protected], (617) 533-9582
February 24, 2022 – Boston, Massachusetts – Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy announced the $407,337 award to Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC) and its partners in the Boston Workforce and Reentry Coalition to create a comprehensive platform for low-income residents and returning citizens in the City of Boston. The Coalition is one of 65 state-wide award recipients through the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program.
The Boston Workforce and Reentry Coalition members are committed to working together to help individuals throughout Boston by creating a comprehensive service inventory and interagency referral outreach system. The Coalition will deliver direct services to 592 Boston residents and returning citizens and provide pre-to-post employment counseling, assist with access to public and mental health resources. Additionally, 447 returning citizens will participate in training programs to qualify for jobs in growing industries.
“As the economy continues to rebound following the pandemic-induced recession and health crisis, access to employment continues to be a great challenge for local residents and returning citizens. The State’s investment in workforce development will allow us to unite efforts to bring employment opportunities and resources to under-resourced individuals,” said Alison Moronta, Director of Economic Development, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation.
“JVS/ MassHire is pleased to partner with the coalition on the important work of assisting community residents with economic mobility by providing employment services and access to training. We look forward to working in a more coordinated way to provide better integrated services to the community,” said Jerry Rubin, President and CEO of JVS.
“Charlestown Adult Education is honored to be part of a strong Coalition. Together, we aim to change the trajectory of the traditional pathways our returning citizens face upon release,” said Lori D’Alleva, Director of Education, Charlestown Adult Education & CharlestownWorks.
“Project Place will work with the Coalition to address the system barriers that hinder individuals in reentry as they reunify with their families, secure employment, and search for stable housing,” said Aaryn Manning, Executive Director of Project Place.
“This Coalition will enable us to meet the needs of returning citizens interested in pursuing higher education while simultaneously receiving reentry support that is critical to success in all areas,” said Hilary Binda, Founding Director, Tufts University Prison Initiative & MyTERN Reentry Program.
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About Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC) is a community development corporation founded by local civic associations in 1979 to address the problems of economic disinvestment, unemployment, crime, community tensions, and the shortage of quality affordable housing undermining Boston’s Dorchester neighborhoods. Over the last 40 years, we have worked in partnership with local leaders and stakeholders to build and preserve 1,100 units of affordable housing and over 200,000 square feet of commercial space, to engage residents in community life, and to support a robust economy through small business support and economic development. The structures we have built are physical manifestations of our work, but at its core, our work is about strengthening our community, which is made up of the people who live and work in our neighborhood.
For more information, visit the DBEDC website at www.dbedc.org, follow us on Twitter @dbedc, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to our email list.
About the Boston Workforce and Reentry Coalition
The Boston Workforce and Reentry Coalition is a partnership of organizations that are coordinating efforts to address the employment, training, and educational needs of Boston returning citizens and low-income residents. The Coalition members include Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, MassHire/Jewish Vocational Service, Charlestown Adult Education, Project Place, and Tufts University/MyTERN Program.
