Amarillo, Texas (KAMR/KCIT)- The City of Amarillo Peer Reintegration Employment Partnership, known as PREP, recently graduated five clients, according to Director of Community Development Jason Riddlespurger.
During a city lunch and learn, Riddlespurger shared that since the academy began in 2021, they have helped between 30-40 clients. The purpose of PREP is to reintegrate clients back into the workforce.
“We’ve got people that have lived experience that are supervisors of this program that are walking alongside of the clients that we are trying to help get back into the workforce,” said Riddlespurger. “These could be folks that are potentially recently released from prison. That could be people that are battling addictions, have recently got back into homes after being homeless.”
During the 12-week academy, clients work cleaning up city parks, at the public library, and other business partners of PREP. Clients also receive training on creating resumes, cover letters, interviews, and areas of literacy.