WSSNews Vol 39 | No. 17

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025

California Allocates $11 million to Support Job Training for People Left Out of Workforce

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media California is awarding nearly $11 mil- lion in grants to six organizations aimed at improving job training and employ- ment opportunities for adults facing barriers to the workforce. The funding, provided by the California Employment Development Department (EDD), tar- gets groups such as veterans, people with disabilities, English-language learners, older workers, and at-risk young adults. "Every Californian deserves the oppor- tunity to pursue a meaningful career," said Gov. Gavin Newsom. "This invest- ment expands access to career pathways for those who've historically faced sys- temic barriers."

Because of Proposition 209, California is prohibited from using public funds to create programs or policies that give preference based on race, limiting the state's ability to target funding to race- specific categories.

The grants are part of the Employment Social Enterprise program, which sup- ports businesses that offer transitional jobs combined with supportive services like housing assistance, childcare, and job coaching. The program is designed to help participants gain work experi- ence and move toward stable employ- ment.

Among the recipients are Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fresno, Pa- cific Asian Consortium in Employment, and Stanislaus Equity Partners. Each will use the funds to expand job training efforts in their respective regions. "This program focuses on populations often excluded from traditional job mar- kets," said Stewart Knox, Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development

Agency. "By funding social enterprises, the state aims to bridge gaps in workforce participation."

The grants come amid ongoing challenges for Californians who face poverty, long-term unemployment, or disabilities that limit access to stable jobs. A recent Georgetown Univer- sity study estimated that 27 to 35 million people nationally want to work but encounter significant employment barriers.

CALIFORNIA

The program's funding is fully supported by federal dollars under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, distrib- uted through the U.S. Department of Labor. An additional $1 million was awarded to REDF, a nonprofit that will provide technical assistance and facilitate coordination among the six grantees.

Young Black Inmate Graduates as High School Valedictorian at Rikers Island Prison

NATIONWIDE--- Tylik Thomas, a young African American inmate serv- ing time at Rikers Island, stood proudly as valedictorian among 63 high school graduates at the East River Academy inside the prison facilities. This gradua- tion marks a rare moment of hope and achievement behind the prison's walls.

"In some of the harshest and rough- est living conditions known to man, we found light in a place where darkness and negativity reign supreme," Thomas told ABC 7 New York.

Rikers Island has long been known for its harsh conditions and troubled history. But this graduation showed that even here, education can lead to change. They wear their caps and gowns as a symbol that their futures are not over, despite the challenges ahead.

Principal Tonya Threadgill said the theme for the graduating class was "re- silience." She explained that coming to jail isn't the end it's a chance to start over and build a better life. The East Riv-

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