Ready4Work Hillsborough is now inspHire
Tampa, FL, August 24, 2023 – Abe Brown Ministrieshas been working to break cycles of incarceration in the Tampa Bay area since 1977. In 2014, Abe Brown Ministries launched the Ready4Work-Hillsborough reentry program, designed to provide formerly incarcerated individuals with the support they need to successfully return to their communities. That reentry program is now known as inspHire.
Abe Brown Ministries President/CEO and reentry program director, Robert Blount says the name change became necessary because the Ready4Work brand and programming was no longer available for licensing. “The new name and brand provide us with the opportunity to refine our program and better focus on the key benefits we provide our clients,” says Blount. “While in the past a client was able to check the boxes of employability, the vision is to assure that an inspHire client is equipped with the confidence and skills to design, create, and navigate a life that is mentally, physically, and spiritually sound: working to establish mental health, positioned to maintain employment, and motivated by purpose and faith.”
A primary focus of the inspHire reentry program is to reduce barriers to successful reentry and achieve self-sufficiency. The program provides personal and professional development, employability skills and vocational training, transportation, housing, and the clothing necessary to assist returning citizens in securing gainful employment.
“When individuals are released from prison, they are feeling hopeless and lost, the inspHire program is designed to provide strategies that stabilize the lives of our clients so that they can focus on sobriety, good health, training, and personal growth,” said Blount. “We are here to inspire, encourage, and teach them the skills necessary to secure gainful employment and achieve self-sufficiency.”
Clients are formerly incarcerated persons who are not habitual violent offenders, do not have any sexual offenses, and must undergo a complete background screening prior to acceptance into the program. Upon acceptance, participants are required to attend a comprehensive six-week professional development training course and are paired with a case manager who provides guidance and support.
Since the program’s inception, more than 770 formerly incarcerated individualshave been successfully placed at 578 employers throughout Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas.
Abe Brown Ministries worked with Tampa-based AKA Integrated Marketing to develop the name, which combines “inspire” with “hire” to describe the program’s mission and purpose. “We needed a name that conveys the true benefits and essence of the program,” said Amanda Koenn, Founder and Managing Director of AKA Integrated Marketing, “After multiple rounds of naming exploration, we found the perfect combination.”
inspHire is always looking for business partners and community support. To learn more about inspHire please visit https://abebrown.org/insphire/ or follow them on social media https://www.facebook.com/inspHireReentry and https://www.linkedin.com/company/reentry/