Finding a job can be hard; for formerly incarcerated individuals it’s exponentially more difficult. In Florida in 2017, more than 30,000 parolees were released back into the community; unfortunately, over 27% of them remained unemployed.
You will be proud to know how Ring Power is helping former inmates turn their lives around. Recently, Lift Trucks Safety Trainer Patrick Knisel was recognized by the Florida Dept. of Corrections for facilitating the Forklift Operator Training class as part of the Corporate Training Program at the College of Central Florida in Ocala. This program offers parolees with felony convictions an opportunity to learn trade skills that can help them reenter the workforce. Upon completion of the forklift training class, the individuals walk away with a 3-year Forklift Operator Certificate — and a higher probability of finding a career they can be proud of.
This is only the first of many initiatives Lift Trucks is taking on behalf of our communities. In the coming months, they will offer training at the women’s prison in Gainesville for soon-to-be-released inmates as well as a similar program for at-risk youth in Citrus County.
We are excited and honored to support FDOC in its efforts to help people become productive members of society.