The Power of Collaboration in Workforce Development: Reducing Violence, Restoring Communities
Violence is more than a public safety issue—it is a workforce issue, an economic issue, and a community issue. Young people who grow up surrounded by violence face significant barriers to employment, stability, and success. At Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), we recognize that breaking these cycles requires more than career training. It demands a coordinated effort to address trauma, provide mentorship, and create safe pathways to opportunity.
In 2023/24, MUS launched its first round of Growth Opportunities Grant Program. Through the first Growth Opportunities (GO) Grant, MUS and its workforce partners in Detroit, MI, Gary, IN, and Kansas City, MO, worked alongside violence prevention organizations, public health agencies, and justice system partners to reach young adults most affected by crime. These collaborations ensured that participants received supportive services, job-readiness, mentorship, and gained conflict resolution skills, and trauma-informed support to help them move away from violence and toward stability.
Detroit Employment Solutions Corp (DESC) partnered with the City of Detroit’s Health Department and the Friends and Family Program to provide case management and job readiness services for young adults impacted by community violence.
Northwest Indiana Workforce Board and the Center for Workforce Innovations (CWI) in Gary worked with Goodwill Industries of Michiana to engage justice-involved youth, providing violence intervention strategies alongside career support.
Full Employment Council (FEC) in Kansas City launched the Caring for Crime Survivors program, helping young adults recover from the traumatic effects of violent crime while building paths toward stability.
These partnerships show that workforce development alone is not enough, we must first create safe spaces where young people can heal, rebuild trust, and envision a future outside of violence.
Workforce programs often focus on training, but true transformation happens when young people receive wraparound support that addresses the root causes of violence. Through intensive case management, peer mentorship, and mental health resources, MUS and its partners provide participants with:
- Safe alternatives to violence and retaliation.
- Conflict resolution and life skills coaching.
- Guidance from mentors who walked the same path
- Access to career pathways once stability is established
By prioritizing violence prevention first, we ensure that young adults are ready to engage in workforce training when they are emotionally and mentally prepared to do so.
Building on this work, MUS is launching the GO MUS Network in 2025 and expanding our partnerships to include EmployIndy, strengthening our reach across Indiana. This $5.1 million initiative, funded by the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, is designed to scale these efforts across multiple cities in the Midwest. In this next phase, we will provide trauma-informed support, leadership development, and workforce opportunities for 350 young adults, reinforcing our commitment to violence prevention as a foundation for economic mobility.
Through strong partnerships, we are not just helping individuals find jobs, we are restoring communities, reducing violence, and building lasting opportunities for those who need them most.
The future of workforce development depends on safety, stability, and support. Let’s continue this work together.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.
