Michigan is one of four states launching a new program to connect people transitioning out of the criminal justice system to restaurant jobs.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation was awarded $4 million toward the program and will use the funds to launch the job skills program Hospitality Opportunities for People (re)Entering Society (HOPES).
Michigan, Delaware, Ohio and Texas received grant money to train and prepare formerly incarcerated people for jobs and careers in the restaurant, food service and hospitality industries.
The hospitality industry is known for being a first job opportunity and offering second chances to people from all backgrounds, said Amanda Smith, executive director of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association.
“There’s a lot about the restaurant industry that I think is attractive,” she said. “There’s a low barrier to entry, but there’s no real cap to how far you can go in this industry.”
Connecting previously incarcerated people with jobs in the hospitality and restaurant sector has been an ongoing conversation since 2017, Smith said. At that time, the MRLA surveyed business owners and found that many were interested in hiring those transitioning out of the system, Smith said.
“Certainly we need employees now more than ever,” she said. “The pandemic wreaked havoc on a lot of things within the industry but certainly on employees. The relationship goes back a lot farther than the pandemic though and we’ve been working to fill the void.”
The restaurant association has been working with the Michigan Department of Corrections on adding food safety and sanitation certifications to MDOC’s vocational training.
Michigan’s vocational villages started in 2016 and offer training in carpentry, plumbing, electrical and computer coding among other trades.
When operating at full capacity, the Vocational Village at Handlon Correctional Facility has 165 vocational trade students, according to the MDOC website. The Vocational Village site at Parnall Correctional Facility has capacity for 240 vocational trade students. The program is expanding this year to the women’s prison in Washtenaw County.
Currently, the employment rate of those leaving state prison is around 30%, MDOC spokesperson Chris Gautz said. Those who enroll in a vocational program see that rate double to more than 60%, he said.
“We have a lot of people who are soon to get out of prison and who are highly motivated,” Gautz said. “If we can train them in the time that they’re with us, so that they can get out and get a job, and never come back and be able to not only support themselves, but support their families and their communities — that’s a win all-around.”
The HOPES program will be an expansion of this work to transition incarcerated people back into the workforce, Gautz said.
“Our prisons are in certain locations in the state, but our prisoners go back to all 83 counties,” he said. “There’s restaurants everywhere and there’s need everywhere. The goal is that there’ll be people coming out from around the state and hopefully be able to walk in and prepare some really excellent food for people everywhere.”
When leaving the vocational village, individuals will have certifications and resumes in hand. The HOPES program will be the connective tissue partnering them with local job placement programs.
The local programs, servicing areas around Detroit, Saginaw and Flint, can provide progress check-ins as well as wraparound services like housing and transportation assistance, Smith said.
The HOPES program itself also aims to take a well-rounded approach by incorporating training on food waste reduction and the financial management of a restaurant.
“[It adds] the understanding of the operational piece of it as well,” Smith said. “Understanding how your role in a food job plays into the overall company’s ability to be sustainable.”
The program will begin Jan. 1 2022 and run for three years. Individuals leaving jail or prison will be eligible.
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