From Innovation to Proven Practice to Expansion
December 12, 2017
By Mai P. Tran, ECMC Foundation
In 2016, ECMC Foundation partnered with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and funded its pilot, the Second Chance Union Training Program. Comprehensive and lasting 12 weeks, the pre-apprenticeship program combines career and technical training with supportive services to prepare participants for guaranteed paid apprenticeships in the construction and building trades.
After the success of the program's first two cohorts, ARC has secured funding from Los Angeles County to continue and is also planning to expand into additional career pathways.
"This is exactly what we hope for in our grant investments. The Foundation invests in programs and initiatives that are innovative and have the potential to make an incremental impact in the lives of learners," said ECMC Foundation President Peter Taylor. "Once proven successful, we want our grantee partners to be able to secure funding for their program from additional sources. ECMC Foundation provides launch capital, which for many organizations is the biggest hurdle."
This article series is a look at the program's success and how it moved from concept to proven practice and now to expansion.
ONE: Two Unlikely Forces – Hollywood and Philanthropy – Partner During the Holidays To Improve Educational Outcomes and Reduce Recidivism
Scott Budnick, founder and president of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, found it difficult to secure capital for his innovative pre-apprenticeship program for formerly incarcerated individuals. Upon learning more about the concept, ECMC Foundation President Peter Taylor and the team agreed to invest in Budnick's program, in large part because of the team's belief that it is important for philanthropy to take risks on new ideas.
TWO: Albert Corona Credits Anti-Recidivism Coalition Pilot Apprenticeship Program for His Success
It turns out ECMC Foundation President Peter Taylor's bet on Scott Budnick's pre-apprenticeship program at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), has paid off. To date, ARC has enrolled 58 formerly incarcerated members across two cohorts; and of those 47 have completed the pre-apprenticeship program. A total of 36 participants have been placed directly into paid apprenticeship programs across eight unions.
Last month program participant Albert Corona visited ECMC Foundation to share his success story.
THREE: Pilot Proves Successful, Leads to Expansion and Funding from LA County
All the buzz of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition's (ARC) pre-apprenticeship program caught the attention of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. Under Solis' direction, LA County committed $350,000 to support the continuation of ARC's Second Chance Union Training Program. Funds went towards supporting the third cohort, which graduated in August 2017 and also the fourth cohort, which will begin in early 2018. ARC also plans to expand into additional career pathways.