TradeWorks Academy
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Slide 2
of returning citizens are rearrested within 10 years. The system recycles people instead of rehabilitating them.
annual cost per incarcerated person — borne by taxpayers, with no return.
Fragmented Services
Housing, training, mental health, and job placement operate in silos. Participants fall through the cracks.
No Housing Strategy
Released with nowhere to go — the #1 predictor of recidivism.
500K+ Unfilled Trade Jobs
Skilled workers are retiring faster than they can be replaced.
Slide 3
An integrated reentry-to-career pipeline that starts inside the correctional facility and extends through housing, training, and lifetime career support.
FIU NCCER training starts 1 year before release inside the facility
18-room campus with structure, brotherhood, and stability
Hands-on skilled trades with real certifications
Direct employer placement at $30K–$60K+ annually
Slide 4
Elite Housing First campus with structure, discipline, and brotherhood
FIU-powered NCCER trade education from pre-release through campus
Paid internships, apprenticeships, and direct employer placement
$30K–$60K+ sustainable career with benefits and growth
Slide 5
Three organizations, one unified mission — each brings a critical piece of the reentry puzzle.
TradeWorks Academy
Program Operator
Florida International Univ.
Education Partner
Agape Network
Behavioral Health
Slide 6
One-time per man
Outcome: Taxpaying tradesman earning $30K–$60K+/year
Per year · recurring
Outcome: Unemployed, unhoused, cycling back through the system
For every dollar invested
Slide 7
NCCER Certification
Industry-recognized credentials from FIU
Stable Housing
Safe campus living from day one
Job Placement
Direct pipeline to employers
MRT Therapy
Evidence-based behavioral health
Transportation
Reliable transport to job sites
Lifetime Community
Ongoing mentorship & brotherhood
Slide 8
FIU instructors deliver NCCER curriculum inside the facility 1 year before release
Live on campus, work active job sites, build daily rhythm
Interview-ready graduates with verified skills pipeline to employers
Ongoing mentorship, family reunification, lifelong community
Slide 9
Slide 10
Workforce Agencies
Seeking proven training programs
Employer Partners
Need reliable, skilled tradespeople
Community Organizations
Creating lasting economic opportunity
Funders & Government
Investing in measurable outcomes
Launch Site
Everglades Correctional Institution
Miami-Dade County, Florida
partner@tradeworksacademy.com
tradeworksacademy.com/partner-portal
Let's Build Something Together.
