On November 6, 2017 Arbor E&T and the Little Rock Workforce Development Board (LRWDB) welcomed two new staff members to the Rock City Reentry Project team. Deborah Senter will serve as Program Director. Under Ms. Senter’s leadership, the program has begun a series of training workshops, policy construction, and cross-training with partners. Antwain Robinson will work as a Career Counselor for the Reentry program.
In July the Labor Department awarded $1.2 million to the Little Rock Workforce Development Board to create a collaborative Reentry Project. The Rock City Reentry Project is a response to Arkansas’ status as having one of the fastest-growing prison populations in the country, largely due to its high rate of recidivism. The project is designed to create a coordinated network of services and training sites to equip 150 adults with the resources to obtain long-term, meaningful employment.
The Little Rock Workforce Center will offer classes in education, soft-skills training, health and wellness and financial empowerment. Core partnerships and additional services include:
- Service hubs at the Our House Career Center and Goodwill Industries of Arkansas
- Support to clients experiencing legal barriers provided by The Center for Arkansas Legal Services
- Training for in-demand work sectors through Pulaski Technical College, the Arkansas Construction Education Foundation, Arkansas Food Jobs, and apprenticeship sites
- Recruiting, peer counseling, and mentoring services through Alternative Urban Solutions
Mayor Mark Stodola has highlighted the project as an integral part of the City’s Little Rock for Life campaign.