Cost for participants: $0.
The CDL program initiated by Emerge Career, which began in 2022, also welcomes individuals recently released from incarceration. It has so far assisted approximately 50 graduates in securing employment within 90 days of obtaining their licenses, predominantly in Massachusetts and California.
Securing employment remains a significant hurdle for those formerly incarcerated, with studies suggesting that around 60 percent struggle to find jobs. However, the trucking sector offers numerous opportunities, with about 3,000 job openings in Massachusetts and around 60,000 available nationwide.
Gallant, 31, recently finished the online training and anticipates his release as early as February, hoping to acquire his commercial learner’s permit soon. He expressed that this opportunity helps him feel valued despite past mistakes, allowing him a chance for redemption.
Uzoma Orchingwa and Gabriel Saruhashi founded Emerge Career after realizing the difficulties faced by individuals re-entering society in finding jobs. They initially started a tech nonprofit focused on keeping incarcerated individuals connected with their families, but soon recognized a larger issue: there was a dire need for workforce solutions in industries suffering from labor shortages.
Recent years have seen a rise in vocational training within correctional facilities as officials seek to promote rehabilitation. Emerge Career, a public benefit corporation mandating a balance of profit-making with societal improvement, employs artificial intelligence and virtual coaching to monitor student progress and assist in meeting CDL requirements, including physical exams and drug tests. They even facilitate onsite permit testing at jails.
Upon release, Emerge ensures participants have a support system by reaching out to three of their family members. They provide connections to food and housing assistance if necessary and cover expenses for transportation, childcare, and other costs associated with driving school. The program offers mock interviews addressing criminal histories, helps connect students with job opportunities, and provides career support for a year after employment.
