**Build City Project Plan: Blockchain Education for Community Service Hours** We will aim to provide a program that provides coding and blockchain technology education to young adults and youth who have recently been incarcerated to complete their court ordered community service hours. The problems and themes the participants will work on is education and financial inclusion/literacy by empowering once incarcerated youth community to gain coding and blockchain technology skills. Our overall theme is to bridge the tech divide within this community and allow support for once incinerated youth to reenter the work force with needed tech-based skills. **Problem** Many youth adults and youth who have recently been incarcerated face significant challenges in reentering society, including limited access to education and employment opportunities. The lack of opportunity leads to high rates of recidivism. We aim to solve the following challenges within this community-based issue: * Reintegration Opportunities: Young adults and youth who have been incarcerated face obstacles in securing meaningful employment due to their criminal records, lack of education, and limited job skills. These barriers make it difficult for them to reintegrate into society and become productive members. * Skills Gap: In the modern workforce, digital skills, particularly coding and blockchain technology, are in high demand. However, incarcerated individuals often lack access to such training programs and remain unprepared for employment in the technology sector. * Lack of Access to Resources: Access to computers, software, and coding tools is limited within correctional facilities, making it challenging for incarcerated individuals to develop these essential skills. * Underrepresentation in Tech Industry: Individuals with criminal records face discrimination in the job market, which is particularly pronounced in the technology sector. This discrimination limits their ability to break into this lucrative and rapidly growing field. * Social Reintegration: Successful reintegration into society is vital not only for the individuals but also for the communities to which they return. Providing education in coding and blockchain technology can be a powerful means to bridge the skills gap and reduce recidivism rates. **Key Objectives:** These objectives collectively aim to address the challenges faced by recently incarcerated young adults and youth by providing them with the education and support needed to break the cycle of recidivism and create a path towards successful reintegration into society through employment in the technology sector. * Skills Development: - Equip participants with practical coding and blockchain technology skills, ensuring they can create, deploy, and manage digital solutions. * Employability: - Increase participants' employability by preparing them for job opportunities in the technology sector, thereby reducing unemployment rates among the recently incarcerated population. * Reduced Recidivism: - Decrease recidivism rates by providing participants with a viable alternative to criminal activities through education and legitimate employment opportunities. * Access to Resources: - Ensure that participants have access to the necessary resources, including computers, software, and internet connectivity, to facilitate their learning. * Mentorship and Support: - Provide mentorship and support services to guide participants throughout their educational journey and help them overcome personal and professional challenges. * Job Placement: - Facilitate job placement or entrepreneurship opportunities for program graduates, enabling them to apply their newly acquired skills in real-world settings. * Community Integration: - Promote successful community reintegration by fostering positive relationships and connections within the technology industry and local communities. * Program Sustainability: - Develop a sustainable program model that can continue to serve the needs of recently incarcerated individuals over the long term. * Data Collection and Evaluation: - Establish mechanisms for tracking participants' progress and outcomes, collecting data on job placement, recidivism rates, and other key metrics to evaluate the program's effectiveness. * Advocacy and Awareness: - Raise awareness about the challenges faced by recently incarcerated individuals and advocate for policies and public support that facilitate their reintegration and employment in the technology sector. * Curriculum Enhancement: - Continuously improve the program's curriculum and teaching methods to ensure they remain relevant and effective in the rapidly evolving technology field. * Partnerships and Funding: - Build partnerships with government agencies, nonprofits, tech companies, and educational institutions to secure funding and resources for the program. **Additional Resources:** We are affiliated with 2 Non-Profits with 501-C Status A Farm For All Upstate NY, NY https://www.afarmforallnewyork.org Loisaida Center Lower East Side, NYC https://loisaida.org Data Stats Contact Information: Michael Herrera #hack #hackoween #buildcity