Uplift Workforce Solutions, Graduation for Returning
Citizens – Featuring our new program with CDL & HVAC!

PHILADELPHIA, PA–On Friday, December 2, 2022, Uplift Workforce Solutions held a graduation for 60 formerly-incarcerated individuals who are now trained in the fields of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), CDL (Commercial Driver’s License), and retail. Retail graduates are guaranteed employment in supermarkets operated by Brown’s Super Stores. “We all know the barriers faced by folks who have a criminal record. The goal of the program to not just offer job training, but to finish with a guaranteed job that can offer a career ladder has been transformative. We believe someone’s mistakes in the past should not dictate their future,” said Barry Johnson, Director of Workforce Solutions.
Uplift Workforce Solutions was created in June 2017 to help returning citizens build stable and successful lives. The program has grown over the years, and to date, we have helped over 700 participants rebuild their lives through a multi-week program that focuses on both hard and soft skills to successfully re-enter the workforce and thrive in their communities. In August of this year, Uplift began a new program to train participants in the field of HVAC; and to prepare them for Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) exams.
Annually, over 36,000 people pass through Philadelphia city jails, 18,000 people are released from prison in Pennsylvania, and over 300,000 people living in Philly have criminal records. Current laws and perceptions have created barriers for these individuals to achieve permanent long-term employment. Due to a lack of opportunity, many of these individuals decide their only option for survival is to re-engage in past behavior. This cycle has led to an 80 percent recidivism rate and long-term structural poverty. That being said, the current recidivism rate with those participants in the Uplift Workforce program is at 2 percent!
About Uplift Solutions:
UpLift Solutions is a 501c3 founded in 2009 to support underserved communities and help them thrive. With a mission of reducing the barriers to justice-involved individuals and at-risk youth, Uplift’s work helps participants find pathways to long-term success. Our training programs, which focus on soft skills as well as technical skills related to employment, create paths to meaningful opportunities that will help participants reach their full potential. If you would like more information about this Uplift, please contact us at communications@upliftsolutions.org or https://upliftsolutions.org/