The mission of “JOBS NOT GUNS” is to assist in CREATING JOBS and BUILDING CAREERS! by providing an opportunity for employers, businesses, developers, general contractors, etc. to provide jobs for District residents that can ultimately reduce gun violence incidents in the District. With the business community working in partnership with social service providers and job training and/or vocational education programs, we collectively create a win-win for attaining and sustaining employment of District residents that will lead to a systematic decrease in the perpetrators and recipients of gun violence in the Nation’s Capital.
Businesses
As we transitioned from the COVID-19 Pandemic, businesses continued to re-open. This created a perfect opportunity to assist potential employers and local businesses to recruit, train and sustain their labor force. The Coalition uses volunteers to assist in recruiting businesses and the community to work in partnership with the Federal and District agencies, the DC City Council, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners and residents to attract employers and local businesses to hire District employees.
Job Training/Vocational Education
The potential for identifying a skilled workforce is augmented by the Coalition to create a matrix of the types of jobs available and coordinate with Federal and local job skill-training, apprenticeship training and vocational education programs to recruit and provide skilled applicants based on the upcoming employment needs. This includes local labor unions, non-union contractors, non-profit and for-profit training programs. The goal is to build a volunteer base that assists in the creation of outreach strategies to develop a workforce that is job ready to fill these employment and career opportunities.
Social/Supportive Services Providers
Sensitive assistance is addressed as a provision of support services provided to potential District workers. The Coalition networks with existing social/support service providers and workforce development programs that maintains a roster of District residents for participation in the Jobs Not Guns Initiatives for referral to potential employers. The support services are committed to providing a continuum of care to the workers hired. This creates a sustainable work force beyond the initial appointment, through the work experience, as needed.
Collectively, the three components of the Jobs Not Guns Initiative provide the tools necessary for employers to obtain and sustain District residents to successfully transition to employment and create safer communities.
