Refill Jackson Initiative

In 2023, Refill Jackson Initiative served 40 young jacksonians in the workforce training program to date, across cohorts 16, 17, 18 and 19, with 29 members graduating from the program. Cohort 17 held the distinction of first cohort with 100% retention, even though this cohort faced the same retention challenges as all the cohorts, including unstable housing and physical and mental health challenges. Staff worked hard to develop strong relationships with social services providers to effectively match members with the resources they need to succeed in the program, and to take full advantage of Refill's programming. The logistics of accessing any one of these resources, let alone multiple, while fully participating in this short, intensive program make this a notable achievement for the staff, and a significant step toward self-sufficiency of members. The Refill team has become proficient at coaching members on overcoming their barriers to employment, 89% of graduates to date report resolving at least one barrier to employment during the program, such as acquiring vital documents, securing access to health care, or obtaining needed eyeglasses. This year the organization has also seen a steady increase in graduates' rates of earning a national career readiness certificate, with an average of 71% earning a bronze-level or higher, a basic requirement for many entry-level jobs in the five high-demand sectors in Mississippi. Rji was also able to provide 20 alumni with continued social services, career coaching, and support after graduation.