Pilot program for up to 25 justice-involved individuals with a conviction for a misdemeanor or a felony as an adult. There will be a training phase and a business phase. Modules will cover life and business skill topics such as computer training and entrepreneurship. CAAB will match savings in an escrow account, savers agree to complete financial education & use their savings for asset-building purposes. See here for details.
Progress Updates:
September 2018: Aspire has served 50 DC returning citizens to date, and reports a zero percent recidivism rate. Similar programs are launching in DC Jail, and other groups are seeking to build Aspire-like programs to remove barriers to entrepreneurship equitably.
August 2017: The third cohort for Aspire launched and are preparing to move from a pilot to full program housed in DOES in 2018.
June 2017: The second Aspire cohort graduated.
March 2017: Launched second cohort and received a $10,000 US Conference of Mayors (USCM) DollarWise innovation grant to help expand the program. Click here for more information.
- Timeline: in-progress
- Lead and key partners: Dept. of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)
- Related core sectors: n/a
- Related opportunity areas: n/a
- Related action areas: talent, funding