→ Visit Our CFCI Grantee Resource Hub ←
Facebook Youtube Linkedin Instagram
Donate Now

Education & Employment

Connecting our students with the training, credentials, and job opportunities they need to build a career – and a new life in their community.

Overview

Amity Foundation connects justice-involved students with the academic credentials, vocational certifications, and employment placement they need to build stable, self-sustaining lives after incarceration. We pair classroom learning with hands-on training and direct job placement support – because education alone is not enough. Our goal is to ensure our students find good-paying jobs that help them invest in their families, and their future.
Education and employment programming operates across Amity’s residential campuses in both California and Arizona, as well as through community-based organizations serving individuals on parole, probation, or transitioning from incarceration. We build training partnerships with community colleges to ensure a broad reach.
Justice-involved adults at all stages of reentry – from those still in residential treatment at Amity campuses to individuals navigating reentry in the community. We have specifically expanded programming to reach young adults aged 18-26, meeting this population at a critical crossroads.
  • Vocational certifications include Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician 9CAMT) and Dunn Edwards painting certifications
  • Accredited Courses through East Los Angeles College, Pierce College, and Antelope Valley College.
  • Job Placement including soft skill training, occupational therapy, and work-based learning
  • Case Management & Support Services provided throughout their employment journey keeps our students focused and on the right path; and we hold graduation and milestone recognition celebrations across our partner institutions.

Our Approach

For Amity students, education and employment aren’t separate goals – they go hand in hand. A credential opens a door; a job keeps that door open. Together, they build the stability that leads to lasting recovery.

Our approach is whole-person and practical. We don’t hand our students a certificate and wish them well – we walk alongside them through training, placement, and the transition into the workforce. Barriers to employment for justice-involved people go beyond skills: discrimination, stigma, gaps in documentation, and limited professional networks – and our faculty works directly with students to overcome those hurdles.

Programs

Hollywood CPR — Creative Industry Pathways for Youth In partnership with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), the Hollywood CPR program gives young people living at Chavez Ranch — Amity’s residential facility — hands-on, on-the-job training in the TV and film industry. Participants gain real working experience on production sets and in related roles, building the credentials and professional connections they need to pursue lasting careers in one of Los Angeles’s most vital industries. For youth who have had few legitimate pathways to economic mobility, Hollywood CPR opens a door while providing therapeutic treatment and access to other vital services.

Community College Partnerships Amity hosts graduation ceremonies throughout the year across a range of training initiatives with our community college partners — East Los Angeles College, Pierce College, and Antelope Valley. Programs include the Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) certification, which has placed many students in careers in residential construction and property management, and a growing range of other accredited credentials.

Amity’s education and workforce programs are supported by a broad range of local, state, and federal partners:

A national reentry employment initiative that connects justice-involved individuals with job placement support and wraparound services as they transition back into their communities. Amity serves as a program provider, linking students to DOL-funded employment pathways and tracking outcomes as part of the national evaluation.

Federal workforce funding that supports training, job placement, and career services for individuals facing employment barriers. Amity accesses WIOA funding to deliver workforce development programming across its campuses and community-based sites.

A California initiative that supports individuals in recovery with concurrent employment and treatment services — recognizing that financial stability is itself a recovery support.

Targeted state funding designed to reduce barriers to employment for people with criminal records, supporting both the training and placement sides of the reentry equation.

State funding that reinvests in communities most impacted by the justice system, supporting expanded employment opportunities for justice-impacted Californians.

Vocational rehabilitation funding that supports students with disabilities — including those with mental health and substance use disorder histories — in accessing training and employment.

Additional DOL funding supporting vocational training and career pathways for young adults and others facing barriers to the workforce.

Pre-employment 8-week training program to prepare individuals with soft skills for entry-level positions in social services. Students receive training in case management, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), field outreach, Mental Health First Aid, CPR/First Aid, motivational interviewing, and Trauma Informed Care.

Employment training program supporting formerly incarcerated individuals to build skills and connect them to career pathways in Substance Use Counseling (18 months) or Facility Maintenance Technician (6 weeks).

Employment training program supporting formerly incarcerated individuals building skills and connection to career pathways for Welding, Class A Truck Driving, and HVAC

The Impact of Just In Reach

Alan Richards, a Los Angeles native, is a living testament to the impact of Amity Foundation’s approach. Alan first came to Amity in 2006, seeking reentry services after experiencing homelessness and incarceration. Recognized for his leadership potential, he was hired in 2008 and has since used his lived experience to design and implement inclusive, effective programs. Now serving as Amity’s Los Angeles Regional Administrator, Alan oversees multiple projects, most notably the Just In Reach program, which uses a housing-first model to stabilize high-need individuals returning from incarceration, reduce recidivism, and lower public system costs. Celebrated across Los Angeles for his dedication to empowering others, Alan continues to lead by example – a driving force advancing Amity’s mission in our communities.