DPL’s Strategic Direction identified providing our customers with educational tools to overcome obstacles to socioeconomic mobility and employability as a key focus area. Achieving this goal required substantially expanding our work skills programming. Felony offender re-entry and lack of computer skills were identified as critical barriers for DPL’s customers. Library staff lacked training and expertise to provide the needed level of service in these areas and sought partners to offer these services.

DPL identified Route360 and Cornbread Hustle as ideal partners as their missions closely aligned with library’s. Route360 offers weekly office hours to provide one-on-one technology and career guidance, in addition, to offering small group technology classes focused on employable technology skills. Cornbread Hustle is a less traditional partner as they are a social enterprise specializing in helping ex-felons and recovering addicts find job placement. They combine entrepreneurial and soft skills training with concentrated placement services.

The combination of Route360’s individualized skills training and Cornbread Hustle’s wrap around job placement have already allowed us to achieve positive outcomes for some of our hardest to serve customers. These programs make it possible for our customers to overcome one of many life obstacles standing between them and improved economic outcomes and a vibrant future.