The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is dedicated to providing immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services to men and women with recent criminal convictions.

Relying on highly structured and tightly supervised programs, CEO works with participants to regain the skills and confidence needed for successful transitions to stable, productive lives. Their four step process – incorporating life skills education, short-term paid transitional employment, full-time job placement and post-placement services – reaches formerly incarcerated people at their most vulnerable point, when they are newly released from incarceration or soon after conviction. With a boost from CEO, participants are less likely to become reincarcerated and more likely to build a foundation for a stable, productive life for themselves and their families. Several studies testify to CEO’s success: a 16-22% reduction in recidivism and higher levels of immediate and long term employment. Local businesses benefit too, gaining a well-trained, reliable work force that provides the skills and work ethic needed to compete.

CEO launched in Charlotte after a yearlong comprehensive process where we identified significant barriers to long-term success for returning citizens. In collaboration with the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Bojangles, CEO aims to reach 800 participants in Charlotte-Mecklenburg by 2024.