Colorado

Apr 24, 2024   |  By KOAA News 5 Southern Colorado

Beyond Bars? ⏤ Forum will consider challenges after release from prison

COLORADO SPRINGS — Close to 600,000 people a year are released from state and federal prisons according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. “The objective once you come back is to get out and to do the right thing moving forward,” said Darrius Taylor who spent 22 years in ...

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Mar 31, 2024

A [background check] company that has never met me made the decision on my employment

When Criss first moved out to Colorado to look for a job, he was concerned that his criminal record might present some challenges. While looking for resources to help him in this regard, he came across the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and became a participant. He was immediately given ...

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Feb 07, 2024

A Missed Opportunity for Colorado: Center for Employment Opportunities Expresses Disappointment after Senate Judiciary Postpones Reentry Cash Pilot

Legislation would have provided Coloradans returning from incarceration up to $3,000 to cover essential needs, such as housing, food, transportation, and more Denver, CO – February 7, 2024 - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed Senate Bill 24-012. The bill was introduced in January by Colorado State Senators Julie Gonzales ...

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Feb 07, 2024   |  By Colorado Newsline

Bill in Colorado to provide cash assistance to people leaving prison dies

Colorado lawmakers killed a bill that would have provided direct cash assistance for daily expenses to support people recently released from incarceration.

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Jan 31, 2024   |  By Colorado Newsline

Pilot program would provide cash assistance to people leaving prison

A Colorado bill aims to provide direct cash assistance for daily expenses to support people recently released from incarceration, with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism.

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Jan 31, 2024   |  By Denver7

Colorado lawmakers consider giving felons who are leaving prison up to $3K

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would provide up to $3,000 to convicted felons to help them transition back into society when they leave prison or jail.

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Jan 22, 2024   |  By CBS News Colorado

LOCAL NEWS Proposed bill in Colorado would give people leaving prison $3,000 to restart life, could save state money

Colorado state Sen. James Coleman knows times are tough for a lot of Coloradans. Especially if they have been convicted of a crime and served their sentence.

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Jan 17, 2024   |  By Newsweek

Democrats Propose Giving $3,000 to People Leaving Prison

Colorado Democrats are proposing a new cash assistance plan that would give people leaving prison up to $3,000 for "basic life expenses."

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Jan 12, 2024   |  By Bolts Magazine

A New Plan to Lower Recidivism: Stimulus Payments to Formerly Incarcerated People

A bill filed in Colorado aims to break the cycle of incarceration by giving people up to $3,000 upon release from prison.

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Jan 11, 2024

Colorado Legislators Introduce Innovative Bill to Create Pilot Program That Would Provide Direct Cash Payments to People Returning from Incarceration

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Jan 09, 2024   |  By Jason Kahler

“A Diamond in the Rough” – How CEO is Helping Demetrius Uncover His True Potential

Like many people reentering their communities after incarceration, Demetrius faced roadblocks to obtaining employment once he got home. Prospective employers struggled to look beyond his record, and Demetrius found he needed to improve some professional skills to help him stand out as a job candidate. Thankfully, the Center for Employment ...

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Jun 22, 2023   |  By Colorado Times Recorder

Why Legislators Should Staff Formerly Incarcerated People Like Me

Experiencing the Colorado State Capitol for the first time can be overwhelming. I never experienced anything like it, and I certainly didn’t expect it to result in a job.

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May 30, 2023   |  By Fiona Denton and Emily Montgomery

CompTIA training reunites Brian with his passion for IT

Brian had studied information technology (IT) previously when he was a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. He attended the school on a full scholarship through the United States Navy, but like many young people, had a hard time focusing on school and choosing a major. “I was passionate ...

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Mar 08, 2023   |  By Emily Montgomery

Returning Strong: Darrius comes full circle by joining CEO staff that first inspired him

Today, Darrius is an eloquent and reflective leader who pours his heart into the work of helping individuals returning home from incarceration. But it wasn’t long ago Darrius was on the other side, unsure what his life would look like after prison. “Many people were wondering what type of life ...

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Mar 01, 2023   |  By Emily Montgomery

A path to fulfillment: Ubaldo’s journey to helping others after overcoming adversity

Looking at his life today, Ubaldo sometimes has to pinch himself. “I tell my wife all the time, am I dreaming?,” he says, “It’s so wonderful. I’m so proud of where I am professionally and personally.” Ubaldo has a loving wife and six happy, successful children. He has a career ...

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Jan 11, 2023   |  By The Gazette

Portable vacuums to 'make a big difference' in litter cleanup across Colorado Springs

Three new portable outdoor vacuums are helping Colorado Springs Public Works crews clean up the city more efficiently and effectively, part of an ongoing initiative to clear trash bags, aluminum soda cans, cardboard and other litter from medians and gutters.

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Sep 13, 2022   |  By Emily Montgomery

From participant to supervisor, George “passes the baton” of success

George calls his full-time job at Center for Employment Opportunities “an answered prayer.” “Not just the job, but to be able to work alongside others,” George says. “To be able to tell them, hey, I know what it takes. Of course, you have to put in the work, but you ...

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Sep 09, 2022   |  By Eric Borsuk

“I am not my past”: How Matrice took back control of her life

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Jul 29, 2022   |  By Emily Montgomery

How reentry cash assistance gave Heather housing security during COVID

For Heather, a Colorado native, things were looking good in 2020 for the first time in awhile. She was released from incarceration in December of 2019 and the following February she began job training and transitional work with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a reentry employment provider. But she ...

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May 11, 2022   |  By Emily Montgomery

Economic mobility after pandemic job loss, thanks to cash assistance

Losing a job during the pandemic could have been a catastrophe for Shaun. But thanks to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) program and our Returning Citizens Stimulus (RCS) cash assistance, this setback didn’t stop him from achieving economic mobility. After battling addiction and receiving a felony conviction in 2019 ...

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May 05, 2022   |  By KOAA

Colorado Springs woman calls stimulus funds 'blessing' for formerly incarcerated Coloradans

A new program is helping formerly incarcerated people across the country.

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May 04, 2022   |  By The Colorado Sun

Nonprofit gives $1.5M cash to more than 600 formerly incarcerated Coloradans transitioning back to community

Heather Fitzsimmons was working on getting her life back together and staying clean while on probation in Aurora when she noticed what seemed to be an extra deposit in the account where she gets paid.

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Mar 22, 2022   |  By Eric Borsuk

Carmen’s RCS Story: How cash assistance provided much-needed reentry support, while reuniting a family

Carmen was 40 years old when she found herself caught in the grips of addiction. Carmen’s life began spiraling out of control, resulting in recurring trips to jail and drug clinics, followed by long stretches of probation. She felt her life was starting over again from scratch every time she ...

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Dec 20, 2021   |  By FOX21 News

Indy Give! 2021: Center for Employment Opportunities

COLORADO SPRINGS — FOX21 News is once again working with the Colorado Springs Independent for this year’s Indy Give! campaign. Recently, the Center for Employment Opportunities joined FOX21’s morning crew to talk about its work and what help it needs from the community.

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Nov 23, 2021   |  By Colorado Springs Business Journal

CEO Provides Second Chance Through Work

(A free email subscription on Colorado Springs Business Journal is required to view) - For those newly released from prison, especially those who have served extended sentences, reacclimating to society can seem like an insurmountable task. Industries have been shuttered, technology has marched on without them, and old contacts and ...

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Aug 02, 2021   |  By Kenneth Edwards

Congress Must Invest Now in Jobs for Justice-Impacted Individuals

"Congress must take action and make sure workforce investment and subsidized employment pass in economic recovery legislation being debated in D.C."

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May 24, 2021   |  By 9news.com

CEO Denver's Kristen Payne Talks with Channel 9News About the Program in the Local Community.

Watch video in the link.

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Oct 28, 2020   |  By KRDO News

Wind, unsecured trash bring more litter along Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A common perception is that much of the litter that accumulates along I-25 in Colorado Springs comes from people who toss it from their vehicles as they drive by. But that's hardly the case.

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Dec 10, 2019   |  By KRDO News

Weather slows some trash pickup along I-25 in Colorado Springs

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the frequency of snowstorms this fall is delaying some trash removal.The private agency [Center for Employment Opportunities] former prison inmates who do the work as part of their parole -- replacing Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful, which employed volunteers who working off community service ...

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Dec 07, 2018   |  By Vail Daily News

CDOT acknowledged for parolee work program partnership with Center for Employment Opportunities

DENVER — The Center for Employment Opportunities has recognized the Colorado Department of Transportation for its role in providing transitional work to individuals on probation or recently released on parole. CDOT's partnership with the Center for Employment Opportunities has provided employment for nearly 200 people since May 2017. Participants in ...

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