About Us

Project Phoenix is a comprehensive "second-chance" program founded by Texas New Era Center/Jobs With Justice to assist in securing living wage jobs via union apprenticeship training for young (18-30 year old), first-time, non-violent, felony probationers in areas with a strong union presence. Project Phoenix partners are committed to supplementing resources and enhancing opportunities to interrupt the vicious cycle of disadvantaged citizens trapped in generational poverty. 
"Conviction of a felony imposes a status upon a person which not only makes him vulnerable to future sanctions through new civil disability statutes, but which also seriously affects his reputation and economic opportunities." - Chief Justice Earl Warren. Parker v. Ellis. (1960).

Culture Change

Texas New Era/Jobs With Justice recognizes that one way to diminish the "school-to-prison pipeline" syndrome is by expanding alternatives to incarceration. Project Phoenix is a comprehensive program addressing the disparate impact of the "pipeline"  by providing community-based solutions to alter public policy and perception.

Opportunity

Youth separated from work and school, including those who also have other disadvantages such as early-child bearing, homelessness, or involvement with the criminal justice system, have the most difficult challenges succeeding in adulthood; however, studies show that they can benefit from comprehensive and integrated programs that combine the education, occupational skills, and support services that Project Phoenix provides.

Labor

Courts recognize that there are substitutes to standard punishment that can have positive personal and societal implications. Local Unions have accepted a leading role in Project Phoenix. They have stepped up as responsible community members to assimilate candidates into their apprenticeship programs to provide them with skill sets that ultimately lead to long-term job opportunities. ​

Our Process

Prior to placement, potential candidates are closely evaluated for program compatibility. Once candidates are introduced to Project Phoenix, those interested in participating undergo further analysis and testing conducted by Work Force Solutions Greater Dallas (WFSGD).

WFSGD is a valued partner of the Project Phoenix family. They perform aptitude testing, evaluate skill sets, establish any need for wrap around services, and facilitate work readiness by providing articles necessary to perform on-the-job duties. (E.g. transportation, tools, uniforms, child care, counseling, soft skill training.)

Running concurrent to their probation term, qualified candidates are offered the opportunity to commit to a multi-year training program in a skilled trade that provides a positive work history, may lead to a reduction of probation requirements, and possible sealing of criminal record. Apprenticeship programs combine classroom studies, on-the-job training, and living-wage pay for the duration of their commitment. 

Did You Know?

  • Dallas ISD has the 14th highest suspension rate in the country (including both in-school and out-of-school suspensions)
  • 1 in 10 young male high school dropouts - and 1 in 4 young black male dropouts - is either in jail or juvenile detention at any point in time
  • Besides their difficulty in finding jobs, disconnected youth are more likely to have other disparate outcomes, like non-marital births and criminal justice involvement
  • There are as many Americans with criminal records with college degrees.
  • A criminal conviction of any sort reduces the likelihood of a better job offer by fifty percent
  • Future employment opportunities and earnings potential are among the strongest predictors of desistance from crime
  • On any given day, some 7 million people - about 1 in every 31 - are under supervision of the corrections system, either locked up or probation or parole in the United States
  • Dallas reported 90,108 non-violent crimes for 2015 - All potential candidates for Project Phoenix
  • A 2012 evalution conducted by Mathematica Policy Research  finds that registered apprenticeships are associated with an average gain in annual earning of $6,595 that persists years after an apprenticeship is completed
  • Employers spend 20 times as much on training as the federal government does
  • •    Reducing recidivism in Dallas County by even 1% saves tax payers hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars
  • Research finds that earning are higher for people who participate in registered apprenticeship programs than for those who do not
  • The more closely training is related to a real job or occupation, the better the results for training participants
  • Lower skilled individuals, and those with multiple barriers to employment, benefit from coordinated strategies across systems and flexible, innovative training strategies that integrate the education, training, and support services needed to prepare for and succeed in the workplace
  • By earning higher wages and receiving fringe benefits, apprentices are less likely to receive public assistance and unemployment compensation 3
"On the wings of Phoenix I rise, lit by the flame of a new day."

Interested in Learning More?
​Reach out to us

Texas New Era Center
1408 North Washington Ave - Suite 240 - Dallas, TX - 75204
Texas New Era Center/Jobs With Justice is a nonprofit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization