MOCJ Programs
Next Mile NYC
Exemplifying New York City’s commitment to creating an upstream solution to several downstream problems – unemployment, recidivism, and labor shortages – one trucking job at a time.
Next Mile NYC is an expansive workforce development program operated by MOCJ and vendor partner Emerge Career that provides an efficient model for connecting justice-involved and housing-insecure New Yorkers with long-term economic opportunities and workforce integration. The program offers participants individualized coaching, comprehensive wraparound services, and direct access to high-paying jobs. Building on a successful pilot, the initiative is now an established program providing cost-free, technology-driven Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training to 290 individuals.
Program Overview
Partner Programs & Organizations
Emerge Career is a minority-owned, technology-based reentry and workforce development company founded by Uzoma “Zo” Orchingwa and Gabe Saruhashi, noted technologists recognized by Time Magazine, MIT Tech Review, and Forbes, for their innovation. Emerge has partnered with other cities and states nationally– including corrections, probation, parole, and workforce departments – to implement similar CDL and workforce pilots in 7 other key jurisdictions, including California, Colorado and Massachusetts.
Services Provided & Focus Domains
Online training with Proprietary Tech-based Technology
In-person CDL training
Vocational, educational and housing supports
Scale & Early Results
A recent mayoral investment of $2.9 million paves the way for expansion from an initial 20 slots in FY25 to 290 slots for FY26. To date, the program has seen a large impact:
- Hundreds of justice-involved New Yorkers enrolled or actively progressing through training
- Graduates secured full-time CDL employment, with $80K average starting salaries
- Early tracking indicates strong employment retention & no reported recidivism
Impact & Highlights
Success Stories
Who It’s For
- Justice-Involvement: Must have history of contact with the criminal justice system:
- Current or former incarceration in jail or prison, OR
- Community supervision (probation or parole), OR
- Prior arrest or conviction history, OR
- Participation in diversion, alternative-to-incarceration, or reentry programs; AND
- No pending cases, No more than one DUI (and none within past 3 years), No convictions for homicide, manslaughter, assault with a vehicle, human or sex trafficking; AND
- Residency: Must be a current resident of NYC (within the five boroughs); AND
- Work Authorization: Must be 18 years or older and a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Resident, or otherwise authorized to work in the United States; AND
- Driver’s License: Must currently hold a valid driver’s license; AND
- Employment Status: Must be unemployed or underemployed at the time of enrollment.
- Unemployed is defined as an individual who does not currently hold paid employment, OR
- Underemployed: Individuals who are working but in positions that are part-time, temporary, low-wage, or not aligned with their skills and training. This includes those earning below the MIT Living Wage for New York City or working in jobs that do not offer a viable career pathway; AND
- Income Level: Must be low-income, defined as earning below the MIT Living Wage standard for New York City (currently $28.87/hour or ~$60,040 annually for a single adult; $51.29/hour or ~$106,681 annually for a single adult with one child, per MIT Living Wage Calculator, Feb. 2025).
Application Process, Referral Pathways & Recruitment Partners
Prospective applicants may apply independently through Emerge Career’s website by completing a brief questionnaire. Applicants are then informed of an acceptance or are rerouted to support services that would be better suited to identified service needs.
The initial referral pathway for Next Mile NYC was MOCJ’s Emergency Transitional Housing (ETH) sites. Recruitment has since expanded to include MOCJ’s Community Justice Reentry Network (CJRN), community-based violence prevention providers, and now, in-custody through the New York City Department of Corrections (DOC).
Emerge Career is available to meet directly with providers interested in making referrals. Each recruitment partner will have access to a personalized referral dashboard to seamlessly track participant progress from referral through enrollment and graduation. Without the explicit assistance of a provider, but with consent from the applicant, Emerge can link that person into the same dashboard.