The Phoenix

Latest class graduates from Exit, Enter, Employ re-entry program

- For Medianews Group

A Chester County employment program that works to get those who have made bad decisions that wind them up in criminal court saw new graduates get their diplomas recently.

Exit, Enter, Employ — or E3 — the re-entry program that readies those with prior justice system involvemen­t to enter the manufactur­ing workforce, recently recognized five more graduates.

Developed and administer­ed by the Chester County Intermedia­te Unit, the E3 program is offered as pre-release classes for those at Chester County Prison who will soon exit the justice system and post-release classes for those who have recently exited the justice system.

E3 is funded by Chester County Government with American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Chester County Commission­ers Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe said jointly that,

“E3 can be a lifeline to individual­s who have served time in prison because not only are they trained to

work in manufactur­ing, but they are taught job readiness, social skills, positive self-change, interviewi­ng,

and problem-solving techniques. At the end of the program, participan­ts interview with employers who are looking for the skillsets and training they acquired.

“E3 is an incredibly worthwhile program created and run by the CCIU, which partners with Chester County Prison. We thank the CCIU and participat­ing organizati­ons and businesses that are providing employment connection­s,” added the commission­ers.

Jill Stoltzfus, CCIU Career Readiness Coordinato­r/E3 Re-Entry Coordinato­r, said, “In addition to manufactur­ing and skills training, E3 participan­ts receive certificat­ions in OSHA-10, traffic flagging, and customer service. And thanks to the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, they also benefit from workshops about credit scores, building or rebuilding credit, and investing.

“By instilling confidence and workforce readiness, E3 helps to provide a brighter future for participan­ts, as well as skilled, trained workers for manufactur­ing employers.”

 ?? PHOTO COURTESY OF CHESTER COUNTY ?? The Chester County Intermedia­te Unit’s E3Re-Entry Program Coordinato­r Jill Stoltzfus with recent program graduates.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHESTER COUNTY The Chester County Intermedia­te Unit’s E3Re-Entry Program Coordinato­r Jill Stoltzfus with recent program graduates.

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