Youth Center Graduates First Cohort of Aramark IN2WORK Students
Four young people currently being held at the Youth Detention Center are the first juvenile graduates in Hamilton County of an innovative program sponsored by Aramark, the Center’s food service provider.
The IN2WORK program teaches incarcerated men and women the fundamentals of working in a food service or retail warehouse environment. Combined with practical work experience and a nationally recognized certificate these skills will give the graduates a better opportunity to enter the workforce when they are released.
Pictured: Destiny Meatchem, Aramark instructor, Anup Das, Aramark district manager, Andrae Jones, Youth Center operations deputy director
“When you think about what you’ll do when you get out, whether you go home in two weeks, or a year, or whether you go to an adult facility, Aramark will stand behind you,” said Belinda Peterson, Aramark’s IN2WORK manager. “When you walk out those doors you are supported. Wherever you go, whatever you do, please know we are here to help you.”
Peterson, along with Anup Das, district manager for Aramark Correctional Services, and Destiny Meatchem, Aramark’s on-site instructor at the Youth Center, all attended the IN2WORK graduation ceremony for the four youth.
“I like being able to show people that you can make the best of every situation,” one of the graduates told those attending the ceremony. “Our situations may not be pretty but we can move forward.” Another said this experience will bring encouragement to other youth being held at the Youth Center.
In addition to training and certification, IN2WORK offers incarcerated program graduates:
- Internships to work alongside Aramark managers in prisons and detention facilities;
- Up to $2,500 in scholarships funding for program graduates and their family members to continue their education in whatever field they choose;
- Job opportunities with Aramark and/or technology access to support their job search in another field.
To date, the IN2WORK program has about 9,000 graduates nationwide. The goal is to make a meaningful difference by breaking the cycle of incarceration through education.
“We are extremely grateful for this program,” said Brian Bell, director of the HCJC Youth Center. “Our goal for the kids we house is rehabilitation. This program gives them an opportunity to use their time here productively so that when they return to our community, they are prepared to get a job and lead successful lives.”
A new cohort of youth has been selected and is now beginning the next round IN2WORK training.