An integrated reentry housing & workforce development program. TradeWorks Academy × Center for Social Change × FIU.
Every year, over 600,000 individuals return to communities from incarceration. Within three years, 68% are rearrested — a cycle driven not by choice, but by the absence of housing, income, and opportunity.
TradeWorks Academy, in partnership with FIU and a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, delivers a proven model that breaks the cycle — combining transitional housing with skilled trades training and guaranteed job placement.
Transitional housing in a structured, supportive 30-bed facility — removing the instability that drives recidivism
FIU-accredited skilled trades curriculum — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, welding & more
Paid on-the-job training and apprenticeship with employer partners from day one of program entry
Full-time employment upon completion — $45K–$75K starting wages with benefits and career advancement
Intake assessment, transitional housing placement, basic life skills, financial literacy, and introduction to the trades. Each participant receives a dedicated case manager and peer mentor.
FIU-accredited core curriculum begins. Hands-on training in selected trade discipline. OSHA-10 certification. Soft skills development — punctuality, communication, teamwork, and professional conduct.
Paid apprenticeship with employer partner begins. 20 hours/week on-the-job + 16 hours/week advanced classroom. Mentorship from journeyman-level tradespeople. First paycheck and savings plan established.
Final certifications, full-time job offer from employer partner, transition to independent housing, graduation ceremony, and enrollment in alumni network with ongoing mentorship and career advancement support.
TradeWorks Academy
Program operator — manages housing, training, employer partnerships, and day-to-day operations
FIU — Academic Partner
Provides accredited curriculum, instructor credentialing, certification, and research/evaluation
501(c)(3) Fiscal Sponsor
Receives and administers HUD CoC funds, foundation grants, and tax-deductible donations
Employer Partners
Provide paid apprenticeships and full-time employment upon graduation — 35+ companies and growing
| Program Type | Transitional Housing + Workforce Development |
| Target Population | Re-entering Citizens (18+) |
| Annual Capacity | 30 Participants (Pilot Year) |
| CoC Request | $200,000 / Year |
| Cost Per Participant | ~$27,000 / Year |
| Leveraged Funding | $500K+ (Grants, Employer Fees, Donations) |
| ROI to Taxpayers | 4:1 — Every $1 saves $4 in incarceration costs |
TradeWorks Academy
tradeworksacademy.com · Launching August 2026
Co-Founders
Paulette "Tinkerbell" Pfeiffer & Megan Lisak
Confidential — Prepared for HUD Continuum of Care Review · TradeWorks Academy is an equal opportunity program. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
× Center for Social Change × FIU
An integrated reentry housing & workforce development program breaking the cycle of homelessness and recidivism.
Men leaving prison face immediate homelessness. Shelters are overcrowded, waitlists stretch for months, and without a stable address, holding a job becomes nearly impossible. No address means no job — no job means no stability.
experience homelessness post-release
America's skilled trades workforce is aging out. Electricians, plumbers, and welders are retiring faster than they can be replaced — while hundreds of thousands of capable men sit idle, locked out of careers that don't require a degree but do require opportunity.
unfilled skilled trade jobs in the U.S.
Without housing, employment, and support, most men return to prison. It's not a lack of willpower — it's a lack of infrastructure. The system releases people with no plan, no coordination, and no safety net. Reentry without wraparound support is designed to fail.
re-arrested within 5 years
Internships & Job Placement
We don't just train — we connect men with apprenticeships and direct job placement. We prepare them with interview skills and provide transportation so nothing stands between them and a career.
Training Without Placement
Programs only train the men. Even with certificates, they are unable to find jobs. No connections, no support, no path to employment.
Building Readiness — Before Release
Starting 1 year prior to release, we offer trade education and training. Men build skills, discipline, and confidence while still incarcerated. Behavioral health begins 90 days prior, building mental readiness so they step into freedom prepared and focused.
Too Little, Too Late
Most programs intervene after release, not during incarceration. By then, the window for building momentum has already narrowed.
Integrated Model — All Under One Roof
By coordinating all services under one roof, men develop confidence and momentum. They see progress in every area of life simultaneously — building the self-belief needed to sustain change long after the program ends.
Fragmented Services
Education, care coordination, job placement, reentry coaching, housing, and mental health are treated separately. Participants fall through the cracks between agencies.
Elite Housing First Model
We lead with stable, structured housing. Before anything else, men have a safe place to live — eliminating the #1 barrier to reentry success and creating the stability needed for everything that follows.
No Housing Strategy
Most reentry programs focus only on job training and ignore housing entirely. Without a stable home, men cycle back to shelters, streets, or prison — no matter how skilled they become.
Family Reunification & Community
We offer family reunification support, team building, and a positive family-like atmosphere at our homes. Men are surrounded by people who believe in them — creating the community and accountability that sustains lasting change.
No Community or Family Support
Men are released with no network, no positive relationships, and no sense of belonging. Without community and family, isolation leads them right back to old environments and old habits.
TradeWorks Academy
Program operator — housing, training, employer partnerships
Center for Social Change
501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor & reentry coordination
FIU — Academic Partner
Accredited curriculum, certification, evaluation
| Program | Transitional Housing + Workforce Dev |
| Population | Re-entering Citizens (18+) |
| Capacity | 30 Participants (Pilot Year) |
| Request | $200,000 / Year |
| Cost/Person | ~$27,000 / Year |
| Leveraged | $500K+ (Grants, Donations) |
TradeWorks Academy
tradeworksacademy.com
Launching August 2026
Co-Founders
Paulette "Tinkerbell" Pfeiffer & Megan Lisak
Confidential — Prepared for HUD Continuum of Care Review · TradeWorks Academy is an equal opportunity program. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
