Once they are released from jail, persons who have been incarcerated in the past and have connections to gangs have significant challenges in terms of finding employment.
In this regard, Rise Up Industries, a non-profit organization with its headquarters in San Diego, is working to assist in the promotion of change.
Rise Up Industries had a ceremony marking the opening of their newly rebuilt machine shop, which is 12,000 square feet in size and cost $5.1 million. The celebration took place on Thursday morning in Valencia Park.
A former facility in Santee that was 3,200 square feet in size has been abandoned in favor of the new one, which can be found at 5275 Market Street.
Rise Up’s Re-entry Program participants receive hands-on instruction in sophisticated manufacturing at the updated machine shop, which is equipped with fourteen compute-numeric control equipment.
In contrast to the situation in the majority of the United States, where formerly jailed members of gangs have a difficult time getting employment, this is not the case in this region; all of the Rise Up members who successfully finish the program obtain employment.
The Executive Director of Rise Up, Jonathan Yackley, gave the following statement: “This new facility is a testament to what is possible when a community invests in hope and second chances.” This expansion would not have been possible without the assistance of all of our partners, for whom we are extremely thankful.
Proof that the program is effective can be found in the form of Ernie Garcia.
Garcia is a former member of a gang who was previously incarcerated when he was 17 years old and subsequently released on parole when he was 46 years old.
Garcia was able to secure employment in the aerospace business after completing the Rise Up program. Then, he returned to Rise Up Industries to take on the role of manager of the new manufacturing plant.
“Rise Up showed me that I could achieve things that I thought I could never achieve,” Garcia adds, crediting Rise Up Industries as a significant contributor to his personal change.
Garcia is convinced that the privilege of being able to have a constructive influence on society has fundamentally altered his perspective on life.
The value and worth of life cannot be overstated. Once I realized that there was value in my life, I began to value other people, and I made it a point to avoid causing harm to anyone. I had to come to terms with the fact that there was value here.
There are other rooms and programs for gang prevention, youth programs, mentoring, life skills, financial skills, and a great deal more in the new building, in addition to the technical and mechanical training that is available.
