In Los Angeles, a number of community-based organizations (CBO) have long stood at the front lines of supporting justice-impacted individuals on their journey back to the workforce and their communities. Amity Foundation in LA has worked with several LA-based CBOs to help bridge service gaps, expand opportunity, and build a sustainable system of support across the county. 

The Helping Justice-involved Reenter Employment (HIRE) initiative, funded by the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), operates through a Hub and Spoke model designed to strengthen collaboration among CBOs. Through this model, a lead organization, the Hub, coordinates implementation and alignment across partner organizations, or Spokes, each bringing specialized services and expertise.

Through HIRE, Amity Foundation serves as the Hub, convening a trusted network of community-based organizations that had long collaborated informally. The initiative provided the structure and support needed to formalize those relationships, align services, and intentionally leverage shared expertise to strengthen pathways to employment and long-term stability.

The Amity Foundation’s HIRE network includes the following community-based organizations (Spokes):

• Mass Liberation
• Homeboy Industries
• Coalition for Responsible Community Development
• Chrysalis
• East Los Angeles College Foundation
• Defy Ventures

“We’ve been able to use every dollar to directly support participants. The needs-based payments and paid internships are life-changing. It’s the difference between surviving and moving forward.” — Joelle Kirtly, Chief Executive Officer, Mass Liberation

Through HIRE, the network has been exploring new ways to drive system-level change and innovation in reentry workforce services. Partners are experimenting with cross-organization co-enrollment models that maximize resources for participants while reducing duplication of services. A mindset shift toward “coopetition” rather than competition has emerged. Organizations are now co-hosting events, sharing alumni job connections, and offering joint support across programs.

FoundationCCC’s Field Building Team within the Workforce Development Department is the Technical Assistance grantee on this initiative and is playing a pivotal role in supporting over 80 HIRE organizations throughout California. By employing human-centered design principles and a community of practice model, they’re fostering a collaborative environment that amplifies the impact of each grantee. This method ensures that organizations have access to the knowledge, skills, abilities, resources, and networks necessary to achieve their grant goals. 

The collaborative efforts between FoundationCCC, the California Workforce Development Board, and the numerous grantees are creating a robust support system for those justice-impacted individuals seeking to reenter the workforce.

Learn more about HIRE >