TIFA is proud to be one of seven Texas organizations working with Google to provide digital skills programs to advance economic opportunity for people impacted by incarceration! (The other six organizations are Prairie View A&M University Cooperative, Extension Program, Literacy Kings, ITEXPERIENCE INC., Digital Workforce Academy, INC, and Jarvis Christian University.) In June, Google shared its investing $4 million toward a new fund that aims to expand its justice reform work. Over 500 nonprofit organizations across the country applied to receive support from the fund, and the seven organizations in Texas were selected by Google based on its history of helping people who have been impacted by incarceration receive training, career resources, and job placement support.
“All members of the workforce should have access to the skills training and training and resources that will move our economy forward,” said Rep. Nicole Collier. “That’s why I’m pleased to see so many Texas-based nonprofits selected for the Grow with Google Fund for Justice Impacted Communities, which will help provide the resources to train and upskill previously incarcerated individuals as they prepare to reenter the workforce and help grow our economy.”
More than 600,000 Americans leave incarceration each year and face higher jobless rates than the U.S. average. The lack of technology in prison creates further barriers to employment, as digital skills are increasingly essential in the current job market. The seven Texas organizations will use the new funding to integrate Google’s digital skills curriculum into existing programming, with the goal of helping people impacted by incarceration learn skills for today’s jobs.
“As we work to create a more inclusive economy, we’re committed to helping people impacted by incarceration access training for today’s jobs,” said Tia McLaurin, Senior Manager, Grow with Google. “We’re proud to work with outstanding partners to ensure more people can qualify for great jobs and create a new beginning for themselves and their families.”
TIFA ses Google digital skills curriculum that was co-curated with five nonprofits — The Last Mile, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), Defy Ventures, Fortune Society and The Ladies of Hope Ministries. The program’s training includes five learning paths that Google developed in collaboration with nonprofit partners: (1) Getting Started with the Basics, (2) Job Search, (3) Job Readiness, (4) Online Safety, and (5) “Next Step” Job Readiness Skills. Lessons vary from fundamental digital skills such as how to apply for jobs online and create a resumé, to more advanced topics including entrepreneurship and business budgeting.
Since launching in April 2021, Grow with Google’s program has helped more than 90,000 people impacted by incarceration obtain digital skills. To date, Google has given over $48 million in Google.org grants and committed 50,000 pro bono hours to advance criminal justice reform. Learn more about how Google is expanding access to digital skills training to support individuals who have been impacted by incarceration: grow.google/justice-impacted.
“Texas Incarcerated Families Association (TIFA) is honored and grateful to receive this Google fund,” said Sharon McKinney, TIFA Executive Director. “These funds will be used to bring Google digital skills training into Texas prison units to provide incarcerated Texans with much needed computer skills training and instruction on job readiness and online safety. This training will also be offered to system-impacted families and formerly incarcerated Texans, furthering TIFA’s mission of strengthening families through support, education, and advocacy.”
About Grow with Google
Grow with Google was started in 2017 to help Americans grow their skills, careers and businesses. It provides training, tools and expertise to help small business owners, veterans and military families, jobseekers and students, educators, startups and developers. Since Grow with Google’s inception, it has helped more than nine million Americans develop new skills. Grow with Google has a network of more than 8,500 partner organizations like libraries, schools, small business development centers, chambers of commerce and nonprofits to help people coast-to-coast.
If you want to learn more about our upcoming Grow with Google trainings, contact our Executive Director Sharon McKinney at smckinney@tifa.org.