Congratulations to Alliance member Career Resources, Inc. in Bridgeport, Connecticut on their launch of Entry Point Staffing! The new enterprise places returning citizens with second chance-friendly employers and offers a full range of supportive services to help workers overcome obstacles to success.

Entry Point is led by Lisa Tella, a criminal justice specialist and champion for returning citizens, and former Job Developer at Stamford Alternative in the Community. In her Director role at Entry Point, Lisa focuses on business development and is finding local employers very receptive to their model and philosophy.

On the candidate side, Dr. William Clark is leading a team that focuses on talent acquisition, training and retention. Entry Point recruits candidates who are residents of work release housing managed by Career Resources and other justice-involved individuals in the community.

All job seekers complete STRIVE training, a hallmark of Career Resources’ job readiness approach for two decades. In adapting Entry Point to the pandemic, Dr. Clark has worked to convert their recruitment and training resources into a virtual format. Workers also receive case management throughout the entirety of their employment.

Career Resources provides comprehensive employment services in Connecticut as a contractor with The WorkPlace, the region’s Workforce Investment Board. The staffing enterprise has been three years in the making and was developed in cooperation with Social Venture Partners Connecticut. A foundation grant awarded earlier this year capitalized the new business.

In Lisa’s view, “the tides of social and criminal justice are turning in the right direction,” and she’s excited to be introducing Entry Point’s services to the market at this moment in time. We share that excitement and wish the Entry Point Staffing team every success in the new year!