The Center for Employment Opportunities was recently named the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Champion in recognition of its work in the Rochester community to remove employment barriers and advance economic opportunity for justice-impacted Rochester residents.
As part of the Neighborhood Champions program, the local organization will receive $50,000 in flexible funding and an opportunity for engagement in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector on topics like human capital management, increasing financial sustainability and storytelling.
Center for Employment Opportunities works with formerly incarcerated individuals as they re-enter the community to provide immediate work with daily pay, job training and coaching, stable, long-term employment and ongoing support.
Grant funding will be used to expand their programming, employing more recently incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism and increase social and economic mobility.
“Finding and securing stable employment can be a major obstacle for individuals returning home after incarceration, disproportionately so for those from low-income communities,” said Colleen Matteson, president, Bank of America Rochester. “By offering gainful employment, job training and career support, Center for Employment Opportunities helps justice-involved Rochester residents navigate the barriers to economic opportunity and financial stability that many face after prison.”
In Rochester, four nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Champions since 2019, with the bank investing $200,000 into these local organizations.
The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and organizations are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Champion honorees.
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