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New York City Agencies and Emerge Career Partner to Connect Hundreds of New Yorkers with Skilled Trades Careers at Next Mile NYC Economic Opportunity Summit, Delivering Opportunity, Affordability, and Justice

Emerge Career, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, NYC Office of Talent and Workforce, Department of Probation, and Department of Correction bring hiring employers and tuition-free training in CDL, diesel technician, and other skilled trades directly to underserved New Yorkers

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — September 3, 2026 — Emerge Career, a leading workforce development technology company, and the New York City Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) yesterday hosted the Next Mile NYC Economic Opportunity Summit at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, convening elected officials, city agency leaders, major employers, and justice-involved New Yorkers to showcase how the city can deliver economic opportunity and expand access to skilled trades careers for underserved New Yorkers. Graduates were hired or offered pre-hire letters on the spot while hundreds were connected with employers. 

The summit featured over 200 attendees across the evening, including remarks from MOCJ Director Deanna Logan, Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin, Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards, Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Yume Kitasei, NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Executive Director Doug Lipari, and NYC Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, and highlighted Next Mile NYC’s track record of training and placing hundreds of justice-involved individuals in CDL/trucking and diesel technician careers. The packed event and opening remarks showcased the success and innovation of Next Mile NYC, delivering economic opportunity and mobility for hundreds of justice-involved New Yorkers through skilled trades careers.  The event also highlighted the program’s innovative, outcome-based model which was developed by Emerge Career and MOCJ to improve upon the standard structures and funding of the city’s workforce programs to date, rewarding outcomes — credentials, placements, and wage growth — rather than program enrollment alone.

"We were thrilled to bring together our partners across the city to show the power of our work. Next Mile NYC is bringing real, tangible second chances – rooted in careers, not just credentials – to New Yorkers. Each agency partner showed how tremendous the impact can be when we work together. Emerge is delivering outcomes by the hundreds across the city and solving critical workforce challenges." said Zo Orchingwa, Emerge Career Co-CEO.

“Access to lucrative career opportunities changes the entire trajectory of an individual’s life and benefits their community," said Deanna Logan, Director of MOCJ. "We’re proud to partner with Emerge Career to give more New Yorkers the chance to succeed. Next Mile NYC gives individuals the ability to garner skills that lead to lasting careers, creating a path forward for the individual, their families, and strengthens our city.”

Panelists for the policy summit included Samantha Kleinfield of MOCJ, Safiya Baptiste-Taylor of HRA, Trey Reid of PINCC, and Colette Grant of DYCD who highlighted the ways the city can strengthen its supports for underserved populations, increase visibility into student employment outcomes, and improve the delivery of careers, not just jobs. Next Mile NYC achieves all three: rigorous transparency across the student journey through placement and retention, wraparound supports, and life-changing careers that deliver many six-figure careers with entrepreneurial opportunities.

The cross-city participation was on full display with representation from The Mayor’s Office, theNYC Department of Probation, the NYC Department of Correction, the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the NYC Office of Talent and Workforce, the NYC City Council, the NYC Economic Development Corporation, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and NYC Human Resources Administration, among others. 

The summit also featured firsthand accounts from Emerge Career graduates now working in skilled trades careers making an average of $75,000, underscoring the economic mobility possible when training programs are paired with direct employer partnerships.

“At the Department of Probation, we know that opportunity is essential to creating lasting pathways forward,” said NYC Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin. “Next Mile NYC is about connecting New Yorkers to skills, credentials and employers that can lead to family-sustaining careers and greater economic stability. By working alongside our partners across government and the private sector, we are helping our clients turn potential into opportunity and build stronger futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.”

“Whenever someone comes into contact with the criminal legal system, all of us in government have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to help build on-ramps to better futures,” said NYC Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards. “And that is exactly what programs like these can achieve. Everyone who has engaged is charting a new path and showing the world what is possible when we invest in people — and when people invest in themselves.”

"Jobs with the city are some of the best in the nation with competitive pay and fantastic benefits, and much like the mission of the Next Mile program, at DCAS we are working to break down barriers to employment," said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. "We are proud to have joined Next Mile and our sister agencies for the Economic Opportunity Summit, and we encourage any New Yorker looking for work to consider municipal employment with the City of New York."

“Today’s summit highlights the value in removing barriers and not overlooking untapped talent. By bringing together employers, jobseekers, and City leaders, we are forging career pathways for justice-impacted New Yorkers," said NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Doug Lipari. "Thanks to the collaboration between MOCJ and Emerge Career, we are ensuring that New Yorkers with valuable CDL skills gain direct access to careers in transportation."

“If we want New Yorkers returning from the justice system to stay on the right path, it is the responsibility of all of us to create paths available to them,” said Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice. “Through training, licensing, and direct connections to possible careers, Next Mile NYC represents a model for what is possible when government and employers work together to remove barriers and invest in workers. I wish success for every graduate, every person taking their first step on this journey, and a special thank you to Emerge Career for opening doors that for too long have been kept closed.”

For media inquiries, please contact Noah Pransky, press@mocj.nyc.gov, or Jason Barefoot, jason@emergecareer.com.

About Emerge Career

Emerge Career is an AI-powered workforce development platform and public benefit corporation that trains and places underserved Americans in skilled trades careers, including CDL/trucking, HVAC, and diesel mechanics.‍

About the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice

The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice makes NYC communities safer — and the justice system more fair — with data-backed initiatives and equitable solutions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY — Emerge Career, an AI-powered workforce development platform, will co-host the Next Mile NYC Economic Opportunity Summit with the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) on September 2nd at the Major R Owens Community Center. The summit brings together elected officials, city agency leaders, employers, and community partners to advance economic opportunity for justice-involved New Yorkers through skilled trades careers, including CDL/trucking, HVAC, and diesel mechanics.

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The event will feature remarks from MOCJ Director Deanna Logan, Department of Corrections Commissioner Stanley Richards, Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin, Department of Citywide Administrative Services Yume Kitasei, and NYC Talent and Workforce Executive Director Doug Lipari, along with key employer partners and the Emerge Career students who are training and ready to become skilled tradespeople.

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"We are thrilled to bring together our partners across government and the private sector to show the power of our work with MOCJ. Next Mile NYC is bringing real, tangible second chances – rooted in careers, not just credentials – to New Yorkers, showing what's possible when we invest in outcomes that create true economic opportunity," said Zo Orchingwa, Emerge Career Co-CEO.

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"Access to lucrative career opportunities changes the entire trajectory of an individual’s life and benefits their community," said Deanna Logan, Director of MOCJ. "We’re proud to partner with Emerge Career to give more New Yorkers the chance to succeed. Next Mile NYC gives individuals the ability to garner skills that lead to lasting careers, creating a path forward for the individual, their families, and strengthens our city.

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The summit builds on Emerge Career's broader case: an outcomes-based workforce development model that brings together employers, policy officials, and community leaders is the best path forward to rapidly reduce recidivism and increase economic opportunity across the city.

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Event Details:

📍 Major R Owens Community Center: 1561 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225

🗓️ September 2, 2026

🕐 4-7pm

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For media inquiries, please contact Noah Pransky, npransky@mocj.nyc.gov, or Jason Barefoot, jason@emergecareer.com.

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About Emerge Career

Emerge Career is an AI-powered workforce development platform and public benefit corporation that trains and places justice-involved individuals in skilled trades careers, including CDL/trucking, HVAC, and diesel mechanics.

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About the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice

The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice makes NYC communities safer — and the justice system more fair — with data-backed initiatives and equitable solutions.

At Emerge Career, we're proud to share the success of our recent collaboration with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) and local driving schools, which has led to the graduation of 19 formerly justice-involved New Yorkers from our Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program. This initiative not only provides a second chance for individuals reentering society but also addresses the critical shortage in the trucking industry.

Empowering Through Opportunity

Our program is designed to bridge the gap between incarceration and meaningful employment. By offering a combination of online and hands-on training, we equip participants with the skills needed to secure high-paying jobs in the trucking sector. Remarkably, all 19 graduates have already secured positions with salaries reaching up to $125,000 annually.

A Collaborative Effort

This achievement underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in creating pathways to success for justice-involved individuals. By working closely with MOCJ (Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice) and leveraging our comprehensive training platform, we've demonstrated that with the right support, individuals can overcome barriers and contribute positively to society.

“One mistake should not destroy a person’s life because every New Yorker deserves a second chance,” said Mayor Adams. “That’s why we launched this innovative Commercial Driver’s License training program — to pair formerly justice-involved individuals with real economic opportunity. All of today’s graduates are now on the path to financial stability, with jobs that pay up to $125,000 a year. This is an outcome in which we all win: our graduates, our economy, and society at large. We cannot expect people to reintegrate into society if we do not provide them with the means and opportunity to earn a decent living. That is exactly what our CDL program does, and that’s exactly why we will be expanding it next year. Our CDL program is an upstream solution to a downstream problem — and it is yet another example of how we are working hard every day to keep New York City the safest big city in America.”

Looking Ahead

The success of this inaugural cohort has set the stage for the expansion of the program in 2026 and beyond. We're committed to continuing our efforts to provide accessible, high-quality training that leads to sustainable employment opportunities for those who need it most.

At Emerge Career, we believe in the transformative power of education and employment. This program is a testament to what's possible when we invest in people and provide them with the tools to succeed.

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💪 Ready to start your own journey? Apply today to learn how we can help you take the next step.

On Wednesday morning around 10am, I set up a demo table for Emerge Career at the Fortune Society's 5th Annual Tech Fair. By the afternoon, I had over 20 business cards in my pocket, 10 warm intros, and was on stage speaking to hundreds of participants.

That's not something I planned. In fact, I asked many times for an opportunity to speak about the amazing work we are doing and was kindly told there wasn't enough space.

But I stayed patient, and optimistic. I felt confident that once people saw and heard about our work, they'd want to get involved and help spread the word, and the work. And I was right. The room recognized what this work is doing across the country.

This year's fair, themed "Using Tech to Rebuild Lives," brought together justice-involved New Yorkers, reentry professionals, and government leaders at John Jay College's Institute for Justice and Opportunity. The energy in that room asked one question louder than any panel ever could: What does a real career pathway look like after incarceration? At Emerge Career, our answer is opportunities in the skilled trades. HVAC technicians. CDL drivers. EV technicians. Diesel mechanics. Electricians. These are careers that AI isn't replacing anytime soon, and in most cases careers where employers are competing more and more aggressively for talent because the demand for labor for exceeds the existing supply.

Our graduates, all of whom are justice-involved, are entering the workforce at $80,000+ starting salaries. Read that again. Over $80,000 for someone with justice involvement is life changing. Not just a safety net, but a foundation. That's on par with a Yale graduate from last year.

None of this happens in a vacuum. It happens because Emerge works with our government partners to build the infrastructure that makes it possible. Agencies like the NYC Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice and the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency don't just check a workforce development box, they change the entire reentry equation. They create the conditions for someone to walk out of incarceration and into a career, not just a job.

That shift, from placement to pathway, is what transforms a program into a movement. To the agencies, workforce development boards, and government offices championing this kind of work: you deserve more public recognition than you receive, but here's some from our recent grads in the meantime. What you are doing is quietly transformative, for individuals, for employers, and for the cities we all share. The reception Emerge Career received at the Tech Fair was a reminder that the ecosystem is ready. Employers are ready. The talent is ready. What we need now is more programs like this, and more partners with the vision and commitment to fund them. I'm proud to be part of it.

Special thanks to The Fortune Society and John Jay College's Institute for Justice and Opportunity for creating a space where this work can speak for itself. And to the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, Tech:NYC, the NYS Digital Equity Network, and the NYC Alliance for Digital Equity for making the event possible.

DENVER — From behind bars to driving trucks, a technology company is helping people formerly in prison or jail get good-paying jobs by becoming truck drivers despite their criminal backgrounds.

For Jamie Dick, watching a game of football is a reminder of the time he spent on the field as a quarterback. He also worked hard in the classroom, majoring in economics.

From behind bars to driving trucks, a Tech company is helping people formerly in prison or jail get good-paying jobs by becoming truck drivers despite their criminal backgrounds.

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"I became a stockbroker. I started with a small regional firm, Edward Jones, out in Arizona, then started my own firm in Las Vegas and was real successful with that," Dick said.

Hearing Dick's story, it seems like he had it all figured out, but then life took a turn for him.

"I got an 18-month sentence, and I spent about eight of that, roughly in Denver County Jail, and then about eight more," Dick said.

While locked up, Dick created a plan to start his own business. Once he left the halfway house, he learned about Emerge Career.

"Emerge Career is an education technology company. It's really focused on providing vocational training and wraparound service support to low-income individuals, in particular, folks who are directly impacted by incarceration," Emerge Career co-founder Zo Orchingwa said.

Since 2022, Emerge Career has helped over 100 people get their CDLs for free by working with local government agencies to train former inmates.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, and because of the social circumstances that we all come from, it'd be unfair to penalize individuals for mistakes that they've made and challenges that they've experienced," Orchingwa said.

Orchingwa hopes to expand the program to more states to help formerly incarcerated people.

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To see the original article, click here.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Emerge career program is coming to the Finger Lakes.

The program works with people who are incarcerated, or were previously incarcerated, helping them receive training and jobs across a variety of career tracks.

“We are always listening to our users what happened was we spent a lot of time interviewing people who were incarcerated who were formerly incarcerated and workforce development folks and one thing we kept hearing about was trucking, that this was a profession that they had long wanted to get into,” co-founder and CEO Uzoma Orchingwa said. “There are different career tracks that we are going to be rolling out this year and early next year.”

Click here for more information about the program, and to apply.

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To see the original article, click here.