Timely workforce thoughts and actions that advance Towards Employment’s Policy Action Plan – to promote economic mobility, especially for those most impacted by systemic racism, through education and advocacy for a more equitable workforce system where everyone has access to family sustaining wages and quality jobs.

Millions of Ohioans are being stripped of their right to drive due to their debt – for reasons unrelated to dangerous driving. Despite being unable to drive to work (or search for work) individuals can’t reinstate their license until all fines and fees are paid off. Why should someone be punished if they don’t have the money to pay a court fee? Even with the funds to resolve their debt, the system for paying that debt is complicated, often entailing trips to multiple jurisdictions – particularly challenging for people who cannot drive legally. The issue of debt-related driver’s license suspensions criminalizes poverty, keeping individuals trapped in an inescapable cycle.

TE Policy Associate Gabbi Fortin sat down with Representative Darnell Brewer (District 18) to discuss the work he’s done in resolving the issue of debt-related license suspensions; from sponsoring House Bill 29, which gives limited driving privileges to individuals owing child support, to hosting events to help make the complicated processes of license reinstatement easier. 

Check out the full interview with Representative Brewer, and read The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s report, ‘A Road to Nowhere’, to learn the facts and consequences of debt-related license suspensions.  

Towards Employment is a Financial Opportunity Center  

LISC is a national organization that connects local groups across America with the capital and technical know-how to help build inclusive, resilient communities of opportunity. One of the LISC areas of focus is “income and wealth building” and to help people build credit and savings, hone job skills and balance the household budget, so a paycheck can build towards long-term goals, LISC has a network of 120 Financial Opportunity Centers across the United States. Towards Employment is a part of this Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) network, providing one-on-one personalized finance coaching, help with credit building, and general financial literacy. 

Economic Stability at Woodhill Homes  

Towards Employment also offers financial coaching services to community members of Woodhill Homes, a public housing neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland. Residents have access to TE programs and services, from providing uniforms and legal services to job-readiness training and transportation. Residents can also choose to work with TE’s Economic Stability Coordinator, Karla Hopkins, who assesses financial needs, works with individuals to improve their resumes and refers them to employment specialists. Karla teaches financial literacy, and assists individuals in overcoming debt, poor credit, and generational poverty while helping them transition from public assistance to achieve greater economic mobility. 

Interviews with Towards Employment staff, participants, and graduates about relevant and timely workforce topics.

This is a story of Gwen, a courageous woman who overcame the stigma and barriers faced by every justice involved person. She applies her experience with restoring her own access to banking by helping Towards Employment participants rebuild their finances serving a the Financial Coach for the FOC at TE.

Contributing Authors:

Brian Balogh - TE Policy Fellow and retired professor and award-winning cohost of a public radio show - interviews TE graduates and staff about interesting workforce topics. Brian combines written text, live words, his research, and community resources n simple stories for workforce friends and supporters to share.

Gabrielle Fortin (she/her) is a TE Policy Associate, previously a Towards Employment’s Summer 2024 Cleveland Foundation Policy and Advocacy Intern. During her internship, she has been supporting TE’s 2022-2025 Policy Agenda with a focus on collateral sanctions. Some of her responsibilities include collaborating with community coalitions, tracking legislation (SB37, HB460, HB464) as well as researching and compiling data to advance TE policy initiatives.

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