From prisons San Rafael nonprofit unlocks career By Judith M. Wilson T he road from jailhouse door to a successful life outside can be a bumpy one. With just $200 in pocket on release from detention and without meaningful support or a way to earn an income, the hurdles can seem insurmountable for the recently incarcerated. For those ready to make the most of a second chance, however, the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a national nonprofit with a North Bay location in San Rafael, aims to increase the odds of success by providing transitional employment and training to help participants build productive lives. CEO was founded in the 1970s as a project of the Vera Institute for Justice, a New York-based think tank seeking solutions to mass incarceration (it became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 1996). The center provides immediate employment and training in soft skills for people starting over after they’ve spent time in the criminal justice system, and is now located in 30 cities across 12 states.
28 NorthBaybiz
August 2025
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