Las Vegas Urban League’s CEO Kevin Hooks together with Senator Reid announced today a $1.5 million dollar grant awarded by the Department of Labor to the Las Vegas Urban League’s Re-entry of Ex-offenders (RExO) program. The grant provides pre and post release services to 200 ex-offenders over a period of 37 months.
Through this grant, ex-offenders will receive case management services, mentoring group sessions, life skills and job readiness classes, and job and training placement. Male and female ex-offenders qualify for services as they exit the correctional system and while on probation or parole.
The RExO program receives the majority of its clients from Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC), Parole and Probation and Clark County Detention Center (CCDC). The Urban League also partners with the following entities: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, Clark County Justice Courts, Nevada Partners, the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, Safe Village, Clark County School District (CCSD), Discovery Mental Health, Federal Probation, Forklift University, Stovall and Associates, College of Southern Nevada (CSN), Workforce Investment Board, Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), The Southern Nevada Housing Authority; Clark County District Attorney’s Office-Family Division, Alpine Steel, Command Center-Las Vegas and PR Diamond.
“I’m pleased to join the Las Vegas Urban League is announcing this $1.5 million grant,” said Senator Harry Reid. “This grant is important because it specifically targets female ex-offenders so they receive the self-development, workforce development, and education they need as they leave correctional custody and become productive members of society. The Las Vegas Urban League has worked for years to provide economic and social solutions to empower our community and I know they will continue this great work,” added the Senator.
The planning period for this grant will begin on July 1, 2013. The process is expected to begin by meeting with community partners to discuss the start of the program and how to plan to work together to address the needs of the clients.
“As we accept female offenders into the program, we have to identify strategies that target characteristics common to female ex-offenders such as motherhood and parenting, along with depression, anger management, relationship building, victim awareness, and social skills,” said Kevin Hooks, the agency’s president and CEO. “The entire agency, especially the prisoner re-entry team here at the Las Vegas Urban League is very excited about this grant awarded to us by the Department of Labor-Employment Training Administration. We are elated to be able to continue providing services to the ex-offender population, addressing their barriers, and leading them to self-sufficiency,” said Onyaka Tiggart, program manager.
“We look forward to working with the Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration as we carry out the guidelines and processes for this grant,” concluded Hooks. The Las Vegas Urban League is an affiliate of the National Urban League, the oldest social services provider in the nation with close to 100 affiliates in 35 states and the District of
Columbia. Las Vegas Urban League has been operating in Nevada since 2004 and currently has nine programs to help provide individuals with equal opportunities to become self-sufficient.
