Center for Employment Opportunities

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) believes in a brighter future for anyone with a recent criminal history and a desire to work.

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 people formerly incarcerated at their most vulnerable point, when they are first released from incarceration or soon after conviction. With a boost from CEO, participants are less likely to become re-incarcerated and more likely to build a foundation for a stable, productive life for themselves and their families.

GreenLight launched CEO in Cincinnati in 2016 to address high rates of recidivism and unemployment for individuals reentering the community following incarceration.

Several studies testify to CEO’s success: a 16-22 percent 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.