Building Futures’ newest program, Building Futures Inside (BFI), will launch its fourth cohort at the Adult Correctional Facility’s (ACI) minimum-security facility this October. We held the first BFI class in February 2023 thanks to an initial investment from the Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance Act, funding from Papitto Opportunity Connection, and substantial partnerships with RI Department of Corrections (RIDOC), RI Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT), and RI Building and Construction Trades Council (RIBCTC).

Building Futures Inside provides construction training to people incarcerated at the ACI, removing significant barriers to stable, family-sustaining employment that formerly incarcerated Rhode Islanders encounter.

Recently the RI Foundation featured a story about Building Futures Inside and the impact this new program is making – read it here.

The BFI curriculum aligns pre-release workforce training and education with one of Rhode Island’s fastest-growing high-wage industries. The construction workforce is projected to grow by 10.9% at the same time as current industry workers are aging, resulting in thousands of open jobs projected this decade. The large-scale unionized construction industry offers the gold standard of on-the-job training via registered apprenticeship and a much-needed pathway to economic stability for justice-involved individuals. Across all of the trades, average registered apprenticeship entry wages are $20 per hour plus benefits. At the completion of a 3-5 year registered apprenticeship program, workers earn on average $40 an hour, plus excellent healthcare and retirement benefits.

Building Futures Inside is a 3-phase construction training program, intended for incarcerated people within three years of release:

  • Pre-Release: Participants receive construction and job skills training on-site at the ACI, leaving with multiple industry certifications.

  • Post-Release: Graduates have the opportunity to transition into our core pre-apprenticeship program, BF200.

  • Post-Graduation: BF200 grads are placed in Registered Apprenticeships with union partners and receive continued reentry support from Building Futures.

24 people have graduated from Building Futures Inside since the program launch. 10 BFI graduates have been released from the ACI and completed our community based pre-apprenticeship program, BF200. 5 of those graduates are already employed, 4 graduated BF200 in August 2024 and are now applying to registered apprenticeship programs.

Building Futures has always worked in the formerly incarcerated community; 46% of our graduates are either formerly incarcerated or justice involved. With a recidivism rate as low as 3%, the evidence bears out — access to family sustaining careers changes lives and whole communities. Building Futures is grateful for this new program, the outstanding partnerships that make it possible, and the program participants who are working hard to create new opportunities for themselves and their families.

Building Futures Inside participants enjoy support from strong allies. Advisory Committee members include representatives from labor, community, and government agencies: David Langlais, VP and RIBCTC and Business Manager of Ironworkers Local 37, Vantage Point Phoenix Project, Polaris MEP, Justice Assistance, and multiple divisions of RIDOC and RIDLT. BFI graduation guests have included LiUNA General Secretary-Treasurer & RIBCTC President Michael Sabitoni, Vantage Point’s Kathleen Carty, Justice Assistance’s Executive Director Jake Bissaillon, IUPAT Assistant to the President and RIBCTC Secretary-Treasurer Scott Duhamel, IBEW 99‘s  Business Manager Joe Walsh and Organizer (and BF200 graduate) Alvin Reyes. These and many other partners come together to support BFI because they know the power of registered apprenticeship to change lives and build new careers.

Recently, two new funders joined the table, Real Jobs RI and the PVD Equity Fund, managed by the United Way of Rhode Island.  Building Futures was honored to provide space for the PVD Equity Fund grant announcement, hosted by the United Way, Mayor Smiley, and Providence City Council leaders Pro Tempore Pichardo and Deputy Majority Leader Harris. Vennicia Kingston, BF graduate, board member, LiUNA member, and CEO of Eagle Eye Construction, offered greetings from the Board and introduced Lemar Wilburn, a BFI graduate who also just completed our community-based pre-apprenticeship in August.

Photos from the PVD Equity Fund announcement with Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Providence City Councilors Harris and Pichardo, and the United Way