At Community Redevelopment Partners, we believe that economic development must engage those who are too often excluded from opportunity. To that end, our organization focuses on three specific areas where inequity continues to persist.
Holistic care for those formerly incarcerated
Economic development strategies that do not include a targeted investment in formerly incarcerated people will not effectively address the income and opportunity disparities.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, even a conviction of a misdemeanor — a minor crime such as shoplifting — can reduce earnings by 16% annually. White people who have been to prison miss out on approximately $270,000 over their lifetimes, compared with socioeconomically similar white people who have not spent time in prison. However, for formerly incarcerated Black and Latino people, it’s nearly $360,000 and more than $510,000, respectively, when compared with socioeconomically similar Black and Latino people who have not been to prison.
We work to train and care for formerly incarcerated residents so that they can have the opportunity to contribute to society and have a high quality of life. This involves providing job training, placement, housing, mental health, and other needed services to support their transition.
Persons of color led business expansion
Black and brown-owned businesses continue to face challenges related to cash-flow and scale. Over 50% of black-owned businesses and over 30% of Hispanic owned businesses receive revenues less than or equal to $100,000 per year. This means that a lot of businesses in our community are restricted from procurement and growth opportunities due to their size and operating history.
At CRP, we aim to prepare businesses for growth by assisting them in attaining their MBE certification, educating them on various procurement processes, and offering counseling to fledgling entrepreneurs.
Youth Services
According to Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department, in 2022 almost3,000 cars were stolen, however, in 2023 this number has risen to over 7,500. When arrests occur related to carjackings, it is estimated that nearly half of those arrested are juveniles.
We must engage, educate, and empower our youth in order to secure our collective future. At CRP, we work with young people to help them develop and achieve annual goals while also helping them navigate the challenges of growing up in today’s world.
