GraceWorks: Career Training with Compassion

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  Partners & Target Collaborators

• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
   
• Local employers, trade unions, and small businesses
   
• Faith-based institutions, colleges, and charter schools
   
• Medical, Behavioral health providers and legal aid clinics
   
• Housing authorities and reentry programs 

Comprehensive, trauma-informed curriculum and workbook system, built specifically for BIPOC youth and adults ages 14 and up who face complex life barriers—such as poverty, learning disabilities, justice system involvement, trauma, housing insecurity, or gaps in education and work history. We believe readiness is more than a résumé.

Our workbook and curriculum don’t just teach job skills — they walk with the participant from the very first step of self-awareness to full transition into the workforce.

Each participant begins with a personal Barrier & Readiness Assessment, identifying educational gaps, Disability or mental health needs, Legal or system involvement, Housing, childcare, or transportation instability, and emotional or social blocks to employment
 

From there, participants are placed into a customized pathway within our curriculum that includes: 

• 3 Part Career Development Guide (Assessment/Preparation, Development, & Transition)

• Barrier Inventory Tracker
   
• Growth & Confidence Surveys (Pre/Post)
   
• Career Pathway Charts (O*NET-aligned)
   
• Work Ethic Rubrics
   
• Participant Completion Certificates
   

• Youth and adults transition from unemployment to being job-ready, with individualized support and placement guidance
   
• Participants show improved emotional and behavioral awareness, including stress management, time management, and interpersonal communication
   
• Individuals complete first-time résumés, engage in mock interviews, and receive one-on-one placement support
   
• Participants are referred to MRC, college programs, trade schools, or apprenticeship opportunities based on personal goals and readiness
   
• Increased financial literacy, including budgeting, banking, saving, and income management
   
• Participants demonstrate independent living readiness, including hygiene, grooming, nutrition, scheduling, and transportation planning
   
• Improved public speaking skills and professional presentation for the workplace
   
• All participants leave with a personalized career transition plan and access to long-term follow-up support