7-19-2023 4:27pm

Innovative Starbucks Partnership Drives New Job Training Program in New Jersey Prisons

New Jersey Department of Corrections partners with Starbucks to launch a pioneering barista training initiative aimed at bolstering reentry prospects for incarcerated individuals.

TRENTON, N.J. - A groundbreaking collaboration between the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) and Starbucks is equipping inmates with practical job skills ahead of their reentry into society. The department celebrated its inaugural graduation ceremony this week, marking the successful completion of a unique employment readiness program for barista training by five incarcerated men from the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility.

This nine-week barista training program, a first in the corrections system, is part of the NJ Providing Access to Community Employment (NJPACE) initiative under the Office of Community Engagement Initiatives (CERI). The program aims to empower individuals nearing release with in-demand job skills offering sustainable wages.

"We are committed to providing incarcerated persons with real-world job skills and training to help them become productive and fulfilled members of the community," expressed Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn during the inaugural graduation ceremony.

Participants learned the fundamentals of being a barista, guided by the manager of a local community Starbucks. Besides acquiring expertise in crafting signature coffees, teas, and cold brews, the trainees also honed transferable skills like resume writing and job interviewing, thereby equipping them for wider employment opportunities.

“The barista training program is an excellent opportunity for each participant to learn a new marketable skill in the coffee house industry," said Dr. Darcella Sessomes, Chief of the Division of Programs & Reintegration Services.

The NJDOC plans to expand this training program to other facilities, potentially benefiting 30-40 additional inmates each year. The department encourages individuals within 36 months of release to participate in such programs.

Cher McCall, Program Coordinator, emphasized the significance of such reentry initiatives: “We believe that reentry programs are something that’s really important in ensuring individuals are provided the necessary tools and skills prior to their reintegration back to society.”

In alignment with its commitment to facilitate smooth reentry into the community, the NJDOC offers several other vocational and job training programs in carpentry, welding, culinary arts, cosmetology, and more.