Persevere

Persevere: Empowering Inmates and Parolees through Coding Education

Persevere is a social enterprise that aims to break the cycle of recidivism by providing coding education and job placement services to inmates and parolees. The company recognizes that unemployment is one of the biggest challenges faced by those who have been involved in the criminal justice system, which often leads them back to prison. By equipping these individuals with valuable skills in technology, Persevere hopes to give them a second chance at life.

The idea behind Persevere was born out of the realization that there is a huge demand for tech talent in today's job market, but not enough skilled workers to fill these positions. At the same time, there are millions of people who are incarcerated or have criminal records who struggle to find employment due to their past mistakes. By bridging this gap through coding education, Persevere believes it can create a win-win situation for both employers and formerly incarcerated individuals.

Persevere's approach is unique in that it focuses on teaching coding skills specifically tailored for web development. This includes HTML/CSS, JavaScript/jQuery, PHP/MySQL, and other relevant technologies used in building websites and web applications. The curriculum has been designed with input from industry experts and takes into account the latest trends in web development.

The program itself consists of two phases: an intensive 12-week coding bootcamp followed by a 6-month apprenticeship with one of Persevere's partner companies. During the bootcamp phase, students learn how to code from scratch using real-world projects as their training ground. They also receive mentorship from experienced developers who guide them through every step of the learning process.

After completing the bootcamp phase, students move on to an apprenticeship where they work alongside professional developers on real client projects. This gives them hands-on experience working on actual software development projects while being paid for their work at competitive rates. The apprenticeship phase also provides an opportunity for students to network with industry professionals and potentially secure a full-time job offer upon completion.

Persevere's success is measured not only by the number of graduates who find employment but also by the impact it has on their lives. Many of Persevere's students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have faced numerous challenges in their lives. By providing them with a path to a stable career, Persevere hopes to break the cycle of poverty and crime that often plagues these communities.

In addition to its coding education program, Persevere also offers job placement services for its graduates. The company has built relationships with employers who are willing to hire formerly incarcerated individuals based on their skills rather than their past mistakes. This helps break down barriers that prevent many people from finding employment after being released from prison.

Persevere's impact goes beyond just helping individuals find jobs; it also benefits society as a whole. By reducing recidivism rates, Persevere is helping to create safer communities while saving taxpayers money in the process. According to research, every dollar invested in correctional education programs saves taxpayers up to five dollars in reduced re-incarceration costs.

In conclusion, Persevere is an innovative social enterprise that is making a real difference in the lives of those who have been involved in the criminal justice system. Its coding education program provides valuable skills training while its job placement services help graduates secure stable careers and reintegrate into society as productive citizens. With its unique approach and commitment to excellence, Persevere is poised for continued success as it works towards creating a brighter future for all involved.