Latest news with #Transfr
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Chicago program bets on virtual reality to break the cycle of incarceration
A training program for recently incarcerated people is using virtual reality to teach job readiness skills. Why it matters: Statistics show that people recently out of prison have a harder time finding work, which can lead them back to prison, restarting generational cycles of poverty and crime. In 2016, 89% of new convictions in Illinois were reoffenders headed back to prison. The big picture: Teamwork Englewood, a job readiness program focused on reentry, is trying to buck that trend by leaning into virtual reality (VR). What they're saying: "It's hard for guys to get out of jail and go right into the workforce," Team Englewood's Mark Mitchell tells Axios. "It's almost like the system is designed for them to go back. That's where this technology comes in." How it works: Participants use VR headsets to simulate real-world jobs at warehouses and construction sites. They learn skills such as using power tools or operating cranes. The three-week program includes 19 hours of VR-based training, while also offering mock interviews and resume-building workshops. Yes, but: It's competitive. On the day Axios visited the office, over 100 people were there to apply. Fewer than 15 are accepted. The program is tailored to those with little or no work history, especially individuals who have served longer prison terms. "We've had people in the program who have done 25 years in prison and missed the whole wave of technology," Team Englewood's LaShawn Evans tells Axios. "With this program, they've become some of the best people we've placed." Zoom in: According to Mitchell, the clock is ticking the minute someone gets out of jail, which is why VR technology helps speed up the process. "The stats show that work ethic starts to dissipate if unemployment persists beyond 90 days, which is usually how long job training programs are," Mitchell says. "We gotta get them to work faster." Reality check: The technology is also designed to build confidence. Mitchell says the big issue is that newly released people quit their new jobs within days. "During the pandemic, we found out that around 19% of our people were abandoning their jobs on day one," Mitchell says. "It was an intimidation factor. So they quit and head back to the streets and most likely back to jail." Mitchell says with the help of VR, the 30-day job retention rate with his participants has climbed to 80%, as opposed to temp agency hires, which hover around 20%. Plus: Unlike other job readiness programs, Team Englewood pays participants $1,000 for VR training. Zoom out: Team Englewood partners with the workplace training organization Transfr to acquire the VR headsets and support. Transfr, which has been doing VR training since 2017, uses the technology in prisons as well as juvenile detention centers around the country. "The technology that we use today didn't exist 10 years ago," Transfr's Kate Kimmer tells Axios. "This idea that I could put a human in the device is incredible. The demand is there, the need is there." The state of play: To pay for the program, Team Englewood receives funding from both the city and the state, plus private grants. Between the lines: Mitchell recognizes the program could be in jeopardy with various federal and local budget crunches. "Without funding, we'd be dead in the water." The bottom line: Mitchell believes that his program can break generational cycles of incarceration and poverty.
Business Wire
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Transfr and Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation Expand Access to Economic Opportunity Through Workforce Training and Development
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Transfr, Inc., the leading workforce education company, and Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AED), the non-profit arm of the trade association representing the $850 billion equipment industry, today announced a strategic partnership to address the industry's critical workforce training and recruitment challenges. The collaboration brings together Transfr's virtual reality (VR)-based career exploration and training solutions and the AED Foundation's extensive network of industry organizations to help students discover and train for careers in the equipment and diesel sectors. By aligning educational requirements with industry demands, this partnership ensures that the training provided meets industry standards and prepares individuals for successful careers. Together, they are introducing an innovative workforce development toolkit that will redefine training approaches. The partnership will leverage Transfr's comprehensive classroom-to-career platform, which connects education, workforce development, and community organizations with employers. Students and job seekers will gain access to state-of-the-art VR simulations that provide immersive experience with equipment maintenance and operation, career exploration opportunities, and direct pathways to employment. Educational institutions will benefit from curriculum aligned with AED Foundation industry standards and practical training experiences without costly physical equipment. For equipment distributors and employers, the partnership offers a pipeline of pre-trained, qualified candidates who have been assessed against industry-recognized standards. 'As we witness the evolution of the equipment industry, our partnership with Transfr represents a pivotal step in redefining the way we approach training and recruitment,' said Sean Fitzgerrel, Vice President of the AED Foundation. 'This innovative program will empower businesses to thrive, ensuring our workforce is both skilled and safe, while setting new industry standards for excellence.' 'Transfr is committed to industry partnerships that match employers' workforce challenges with the need for enhanced classroom-to-career pathways for more Americans,' said Bharani Rajakumar, founder and CEO of Transfr. 'Through our work with the AED Foundation, we are fulfilling that mission by helping train a new generation of professionals to build the future of the equipment industry. Now, more than ever this type of collaboration is critical for creating economic opportunity and business growth on a national, regional, and local level.' With more than 330 interactive training simulations across 16 career clusters and technology-driven solutions that have reached more than 400,000 learners, Transfr brings significant experience in workforce education and development to the partnership. About Associated Equipment Distributors Established in 1919, Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) is an international trade association based in Schaumburg, IL, representing over 700 equipment distributors, manufacturers, and industry-service firms nationwide. AED members sell, service and rent equipment to such markets as heavy and light construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, aggregates, engines and industrial. About Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation Established in 1991 and directed by AED members, The AED Foundation (AEDF) addresses professional education and workforce development in the industry. This includes AEDF Accreditation of diesel-equipment technology college programs and AEDF Recognition of secondary diesel programs. For more information, visit About Transfr Transfr, Inc. is a leading workforce education company on a mission to strengthen communities by getting more people on a pathway to upward mobility. Through its comprehensive classroom-to-career platform, Transfr connects education, workforce development, and community organizations with employers to provide immersive career exploration and skills training. The company's multi-modal learning approach combines mobile technology, virtual reality simulations, and curriculum resources to help learners discover, experience, and prepare for well-paying careers that don't require a four-year degree. With more than 330 interactive training simulations across 16 career clusters, Spanish-language support, and partnerships with institutions nationwide, Transfr's technology-driven solutions have reached more than 400,000 learners. The company was ranked No.106 on the 2024 Inc. Magazine 5000 list of fastest-growing companies and named 'Best World-Changing Idea' by Fast Company Magazine. For more information, please visit
