Exciting news at Roots of Success! 🌱 Please join us in welcoming Tori as our new Program Manager! She joins us with a strong background in public health, and we’re thrilled to have her expertise in advancing our mission of environmental literacy and job training. #RootsOfSuccess

They are currently teaching their first cohort and we are excited for the projects they are working on and building connections to employers! Check out their website, greentechedu.org

Roots of Success recently trained new instructors with the Sacramento based organization, Green Tech. Green Tech offers innovative workforce skills to youth and young adults in frontline communities with an emphasis on environmental protection, justice, and economic development.

...hired with one of Chicago's first Black dispensaries, and now table events and interview for promotions. I couldn't be more proud of Monica and of the work we and our partners are doing...Keep it up Monica Gonzalez! The world's watching and cheering you on!”

A quote from their social media about a recent Roots of Success graduate: “When Monica started the Legacy Fellowship Program, we could barely hear her when she spoke. It's amazing to witness her get out of her shell and her own way, pitch her sustainable business idea, get ...

The program provides professional development, entrepreneurship training, record clearing, tech literacy, financial literacy, environmental sustainability training, healthcare self-advocacy, mental health programming and community advocacy to justice impacted Chicagoans.

RoS works with Illinois Equity Staffing, a Chicago based talent acquisition, training and human resources provider in the cannabis industry. They manage the Community Legacy Resource Collective: a collaborative of seven organizations partnering for the Legacy Fellowship Program.

News Article - Green Energy Jobs in the US: What Are They, and Where Are They? Read the full research article here: lnkd.in/eH9wNVNg Or read a summary of key findings here: lnkd.in/e72r7dMf

The US Department of Energy identifies that there are over 8 million jobs in energy and that for two consecutive years, energy job growth has outpaced overall U.S. employment. However, what are these jobs and who will benefit the most from these new opportunities and careers?

Roots of Success partners with @JobTrain to teach the Roots of Success class and Pre-Apprenticeship in Maple Street Correctional Center in Redwood City, CA. JobTrain supports people in the Menlo Park and East Palo Alto area and is both a job-training center and accredited school.

The return of Pell Grants for people who are incarcerated has been a long-sought change since the 1994 crime bill eliminated them for people in prison and ended the majority of prison education programs.

After a nearly 30-year ban, Pell Grant eligibility has been restored for people who are incarcerated. This means an estimated 760,000 people will now have access to federal financial aid to pursue postsecondary education.

Residents develop skills in sustainable farming, small business practices, food preparation and presentation in an environment that fosters improved physical, spiritual and financial health.

Roots of Success is proud to partner with @BenevolenceFarm, an organization in North Carolina that provides a transitional employment and living program for women leaving prisons.

LINCS Community groups are moderated by adult education experts who facilitate asynchronous discussions, host virtual events, and direct members to high quality, evidence-based resources and information.

The Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) is a national leadership initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) to expand evidence-based practice in the field of adult education.

Roots of Success and partners were featured in a news article in Ithaca, NY. Aloja Airewele, Energy Warriors director, Raquel Pinderhughes, founder of Roots of Success, and Karim Beers have been working on a green jobs training program in the region. lnkd.in/ez56SsA2

Grow Jackson started in the fall of 2020 and launched its first two community gardens in the spring of 2021. Now with over 10 gardens supported or managed, Grow Jackson supports hundreds of students and families with fresh food and education.

Grow Jackson is launching the Returning Citizen Program and will incorporate the Roots of Success curriculum as an integral part of their internship program.