Digital training program helping incarcerated people gain key skills

Individuals who have served prison time previously had to wait until their release to quickly learn how to use smartphones, conduct Zoom calls and other means of high-tech communication. That in turn created an extra challenge in a tech-savvy world, as employers conduct their job application processes online. Now, inmates won’t have to wait until they’re released to learn the ins and outs of today’s technology. Rather, they can learn such digital skills prior to their scheduled release dates, due to a partnership Google formed with seven Texas nonprofits, including the Digital Workforce Academy, which has locations in Port Arthur and Orange, Texas. Over 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide applied to receive support from the “Grow with Google” fund, which started in 2017. Google selected seven Texas organizations, including Digital Workforce Agency, based on their history of helping people who’ve been impacted by incarceration. The program provides digital skills training and job placement support for more than 679,000 Texans. The training centers around using online job search platforms, such as Monster and Indeed; online networking and résumé building; online safety, such as recognizing and protecting against phishing scams; and using Google Docs, online budget spreadsheets and mobile calendars. Such skills factor into preparing one to go into entrepreneurial work so they can start their own business.