Partnership to provide vocational services for incarcerated individuals reentering Vermont communities

Waterbury, VT – The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) and Working Fields today
announced a partnership to provide vocational services, coaching, and support to individuals 
reentering their communities. The non-profit also connects directly with employers to facilitate hiring 
and boost employee retention.

“This partnership with DOC will build upon Working Fields’ mission of overcoming workforce 
barriers side by side with resilient job seekers and engaged employers to foster a thriving 
community,” said Mickey Wiles, Founder and CEO of Working Fields. “Everyone deserves an 
opportunity for a fulfilling career, and providing tools like coaching and vocational services can help 
individuals succeed.”

These services are supported by a $1.2 million Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant awarded to DOC 
to expand vocational training in Vermont correctional facilities. In addition to the $150,000 for the 
partnership between Working Fields and DOC, the remaining grant funds helped establish a 
correctional facility-based culinary pilot program and enhance pathways between correctional facility
and community vocational services.

“Our partnership with Working Fields not only fills a need for the incarcerated population as they 
reenter their communities but also Vermont employers,” said Nicholas J. Deml, Commissioner of the 
Vermont Department of Corrections. “Through this program, we are strengthening Vermont’s 
workforce, investing in the rehabilitation and successful reentry of justice-involved individuals, and 
building healthier, more vibrant communities.”