Workforce Development Initiative Targets New York's Justice-Impacted Communities In Cannabis Industry

In a landmark partnership, the Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative (CJEI) and Union Square Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store (USQTA) have joined forces to empower New York's justice-impacted population through a comprehensive workforce and career development program in the state's burgeoning cannabis industry. The initiative will be kick-started with the official launch of CJEI's education and employment training pilot program, offering a ray of hope to individuals striving to rebuild their lives after incarceration.

Terrence Coffie, an adjunct professor at NYU and a graduate of the Doe Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals transition back into society, will join forces with Jamil Myrie, co-founder and chief programs officer of CJEI, along with other key figures including Arana Hankin-Biggers, president of USQTA, Robert Cornegy, special advisor to USQTA, Keisha Sutton-James, Manhattan deputy borough president, Damian Fagon, OCM's chief equity officer, Dasheeda Dawson, founding director of CannabisNYC, and City College president Dr. Vincent Boudreau. They will be hosting a press conference at City College's Harlem campus on Tuesday, June 27, at 10:00 am to unveil the program and outline its implementation.

With the downstate region bearing the brunt of cannabis-related convictions, CJEI has placed a strong emphasis on community engagement and employment readiness programs specifically targeting this area. The pilot program, comprising 25 "returning citizen" participants, will convene twice a week at City College, offering education, training, and guidance to individuals from the most justice-impacted communities in New York. The program's objective is to equip these individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to access the abundant job opportunities within New York's regulated cannabis industry, which is estimated to create over 60,000 jobs.

CJEI, in collaboration with the Cannabis Workforce Initiative, a partnership between the Workforce Development Institute and Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, has developed a comprehensive 16-week educational and training certificate program. This program not only addresses common misconceptions surrounding cannabis regulations but also provides participants with universally applicable employment training. The coursework covers a range of topics including digital literacy, seed-to-sale compliance, networking skills, resume and career building, field observations, and interview preparation. To further support the participants, the New York State Department of Labor's Cannabis Employment Education Development (CEED) team will facilitate workshops, offer resume reviews, and conduct mock interviews.

Jamil Myrie expressed the program's alignment with the intent of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), stating, "This goes right to the heart of the MRTA's purpose as a social equity law. Our intention is to democratize this cannabis opportunity by developing a skilled labor force using the feedback, knowledge, and experience gained from the pilot to inform our at-scale program operations of 100-person cohorts to run concurrently in each of the five boroughs of New York City every 16 weeks."

Terrence Coffie, co-founder and executive director, emphasized the program's vision, stating, "Our vision of this budding industry is to provide opportunities for all New Yorkers impacted by anti-cannabis enforcement."

When approached by Terrence Coffie and Jamil Myrie, USQTA eagerly embraced the initiative, recognizing the synergy with the Doe Fund's longstanding efforts. "When Terrence and Jamil approached USQTA to help them with this initiative, we thought it was a perfect match to what our partners at the Doe Fund have been doing for many years," said Arana Hankin-Biggers. "Our dispensary prides itself on providing second chances for those negatively impacted by the failed war on drugs, and we proudly support CJEI's holistic program."

The press conference to launch the program will take place at the City College of New York, specifically at the North Academic Center (NAC) Building, NAC Ballroom on the 1st floor, located at 160 Convent Avenue, at the intersection of 138th Street. The event will commence at 10:00 am on Tuesday, June 27.

This groundbreaking initiative holds the potential to transform lives, dismantle barriers, and create a more inclusive and equitable cannabis industry in New York, offering hope and opportunity to individuals seeking a fresh start.