What is #projectcampcupcake?
It’s starts with a journey and ends with a need to help others.
Our plans for #projectcampcupcake started years before Perfectly Pastry became a business. We have strong ties and experiences with women who have been in the prison system and have fought and clawed their way back out.
Watching these struggles, we have decided that we want to help make this journey less difficult. We want to help lessen the burden when women integrate back into society. We want to be a support for these women and to stand with them so that they know they are not alone. We want them to know that there are people in their court, who believe in them, and want to see them succeed.
Why should you help?
A 2018 Special Report released by the Bureau of Statistics found that 82% of prisoners were arrested within 3 years of their release. 44% of these arrests occurred within the first year (Alper, et al., 2018).
In 2015, a study found that immediate employment after release had the highest effect on reducing recidivism. This same study found that it can reduce recidivism by 20% (Coves, et al., 2015).
Most importantly the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) published an article in 2016 stating “programs that connect former offenders with housing and supportive services to facilitate their successful reentry into society have been shown to reduce recidivism…” (PD&R , 2016)
…but, if that is not enough for you, then let me level with you.
- Have you ever made a mistake?
- Have you ever said something or did something you regretted? Have you have asked for a second chance?
- Have you made a mistake and then been punished for the rest of your life for that mistake?
No, you don’t live every day being ostracized for a decision or a mistake you have made. Neither should these women. They may have made a mistake, but they have accepted their punishment, paid their debt to society and don’t deserve to be ostracized for the rest of their lives.
Instead, let’s give them the skills and tools necessary to be valuable members of society.
Join us as we help change lives for women in our country.
We ask you to leave just a little donation to help us move toward our goals. If each person gives just $5 (let’s be real that’s less than our Starbucks coffee or McDonald’s) then we can help others gain the opportunity to become successfully employed and regain the independence and self-respect that comes with hard work and perseverance.
How does your dollar help?
Our objective is to fight recidivism by providing female ex-felons to gain employable skills through our baking training program. We want to help give them a second chance at life. They did their time and now deserve a chance to heal, grow, and carry on with their lives.
Our hope is to open a center where women can train to be bakers and gain employment immediately upon release. We want to develop a program that meets the following objectives:
- Train in the baking industry by a certified pastry chef
- Train in the front of house at a bakery
- Learn necessary computer and paperwork skills
- Learn industry standards for bakeries and kitchens
- Learn necessary resume and interview skills
Our goal is that when an individual exists our program, they will have the skills necessary to:
- work in a high-volume kitchen
- have 1 year of consistent work history
- have skills necessary to complete interviews
- have skills necessary to complete interview pressure tests
- leave with 2 peer references and 1 employment reference
To assist with the transition into a new place of employment after completion of the program, the individual will:
- reimbursed up to $50 to obtain an interview outfit
- reimbursed up to $50 to receive a new hair cut for interviews
- reimbursed up to $50 to help offset travel costs for interview
- receive a full chef kit
- receive time each week to apply for new places of employment
- have access to our network of employers
- receive assistance with resume and interview skills
- receive 2 peer references and 1 employment reference
Where does your dollar go?
Your dollars will provide us with the cash flow to start establishing the nonprofit organization including the following:
- $1000 for legal fees
- $250 for paperwork fees
- Access to future funding
#projectcampcumpcake
Where a dollar helps make a brighter future for women.
YOU can help make a DIFFERENCE in another woman’s life!
- 1) GIVE whatever you can. No donation is too small (Not tax-deductible at this time)
- 2) SHARE on social media (#projectcampcupcake)
- 3) EMAIL this page- www.projectcampcupcake.org – to your family + friends
Resources:
Alper, M., Ph.D., Durose, M., Markman, J.. (2018). 2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-up Period (2005-2014). Special Report. https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/18upr9yfup0514.pdf. Retrieved 2020 Mar 20
Coves, P. and Bowes, L. (2015). Immediate Access to Employment Reduces Recidivism. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/06/11/immediate_access_to_employment_reduces_recidivism_126939.htmlRetrieved 2020 Mar 20
Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). (2016). Reducing Offender Recidivism and Reconnecting Opportunity Youth. Evidence Matters. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/em/summer16/highlight3.htmlRetrieved 2020 Mar 20