The Community Foundation Announces $25,000 Grant to Support NAACP CT Jobs Campaign

“We’re excited to support the One Million Jobs Campaign for its alignment with The Foundation’s long-standing work with underserved and marginalized populations in our region, including the formerly incarcerated. The campaign and the partnerships that are being created as a result of it are advancing our strategic work to promote inclusion and reduce inequities in our community. This project is for New Haven, for our citizens and for our entire community. When returning citizens can secure employment, the emotional and economic relief is felt beyond their households,” says Arthur Thomas, Director of Entrepreneurial Initiatives and Inclusive Economic Opportunity. “We hope our support inspires others to lend their support for this important work.”

The national goal of the OMJC is to secure jobs for 1 million people with criminal backgrounds throughout the United States beginning with Connecticut. The goal in Connecticut is to secure 10,000 jobs in three years, which will count towards the national goal. According to the Connecticut Department of Labor projections for 2026, the fastest growing occupations are in healthcare, manufacturing, construction and transportation. The OMJC is part of the NAACP’s efforts to increase Fair Chance Hiring, which includes implementing a combination of government regulations and employer policies that give those with a criminal record increased access to meaningful employment and career paths.

Based on a successful model by Maryland’s Johns Hopkins Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System and OMJC have a mutual goal that 5% of the entry-level job openings within the System be filled in the coming three years by qualified individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system. As part of this agreement, Yale New Haven Hospital is working to make jobs available to formerly incarcerated individuals over the next 3-5 years. Yale New Haven Health System currently employs approximately 28,000 people.

To meet this commitment, Yale New Haven Health System and the OMJC will work with additional partners who can assist in training and education. The NAACP CT has secured pledges of commitment from the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System, The Workplace Inc., The District and are actively pursuing others.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is a philanthropic institution that was established in 1928 as the community's permanent charitable endowment. For more than three generations, thousands of donors have built our community endowment by establishing permanent funds or making gifts to existing funds that distribute grants to a broad variety of issues and organizations. These donors, past and present, make their gifts to ensure that programs and causes that matter most to them will be supported today and forever. The Community Foundation is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the United States and remains the largest grantmaker in a twenty-town region located in the heart of central Connecticut. The Community Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization.

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Media Contact:
Matt Higbee
Content and Engagement Manager
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Email