CUNY SPS PEWL Unit Launches Unlocking Employment E-Learning Course

In recognition of Second Chance Month, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) celebrates the launch of Unlocking Employment: How to Partner with Job Seekers Impacted by the Legal System, an e-learning course developed by the School’s Office of Professional Education and Workplace Learning (PEWL) unit, the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity), and the John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity.

Designed in partnership with job seekers and workforce practitioners, this free 90-minute online training includes four self-paced modules featuring interactive exercises and case studies, and a curated resource library that learners may refer to at any time during or after the course.

Registration is free and open to frontline staff and program leadership at NYC workforce development programs. 

"We are thrilled that this program is up, running and available to workforce development professionals working every day to help people with lived experience in the criminal legal system gain employment," said PEWL Senior Program Director Dawn Picken. "The course is filled with key insights on legal protections for those with criminal convictions, ways to reduce stigma and discrimination, and proven strategies to support the job search." 

Each April, the U.S. Department of Justice commemorates Second Chance Month, recognizing the importance of helping individuals, communities, and agencies across the country understand their role in supporting the safe and successful reentry of millions of people returning from incarceration each year.

Khjim Jennette, reentry specialist/mentor at the Staten Island Justice Center, said the course is essential for those wanting to learn more about helping formerly incarcerated people gain employment. "I don't have a lot of experience serving this population, but I am a part of this population," said Jennette, who spent time in prison many years ago.

"I faced a lot of challenges finding a job after my experience," she said. "I'm so grateful to the Mayor's Office and to CUNY that this great work is being done with reentry, even though it wasn't available when I needed it, but it's here now. I mentor this population as part of my job and when I heard about the course, I thought it was something that could help me with my work. I'm very happy I did."

Fabian Mobley, an employment coach with WeCare Operations, also knows what it's like to face obstacles finding employment after incarceration and working with people who have similar experience. "The training was wonderful and had great information," he said. "I work with people to get them greater economic independence and Unlocking Employment helps with that."

NYC Opportunity Acting Executive Director Carson Hicks explained that the course was created to realize the shared commitment to improving economic outcomes for New Yorkers involved in the criminal legal system and with the goal of transforming the system by reaching staff across the entire provider community.

 "This professional development initiative focuses on upstream public safety solutions that reduce recidivism through connecting New Yorkers to jobs, training and services, and builds capacity in New York City's workforce development system to better serve low-income jobseekers," Hicks said.

About NYC Opportunity

The Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity) helps the City apply evidence and innovation to reduce poverty and increase equity. We work to improve the systems of government by advancing the use of research, data and design in program and policy development, service delivery, and budget decisions. Our work includes analyzing existing anti-poverty approaches, developing new strategies, facilitating the sharing of data across City agencies, and rigorously assessing the impact of key initiatives. NYC Opportunity manages a discrete fund and works collaboratively with City agencies to design, test and oversee new programs and digital products.

NYC Opportunity also produces research and analysis of poverty and social conditions, including its influential annual Poverty Measure, which provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of poverty in New York City than the federal rate. NYC Opportunity is active in making equity a core governing principle across all agencies.

About the John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity

The Institute for Justice and Opportunity is a center of research and action at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. As part of the City University of New York, which drives economic mobility across our City, the Institute increases access to higher education and the workforce for people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system. The Institute provides a continuum of services within correctional facilities and in the community to support our students’ educational journeys, connecting them to programs at CUNY and services in New York City.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.

Press Contact
Andrea Fagon
CUNY SPS Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
andrea.fagon@cuny.edu