It’s made possible through a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and Emerge Career, an organization that helps connect people who have had involvement with the criminal justice system with lucrative jobs in industries that need workers. The program is funded through the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice which has plans to increase funding from $2.9 million this fiscal year to $5 million in fiscal year 2027. MOCJ Director Deanna Logan called it “a win-win” — for the people the program helps stabilize and for New York City taxpayers. Brittany Kriegstein / GothamistThis spring, the program newly collaborated with the city’s Department of Correction to allow detainees to begin training while still behind bars at Rikers. David Hennis graduated from the Emerge program last year and is now driving for Western Express.