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44 www.CNC-West.com CNC WEST December 2017 /January 2018 know what they get, but Rise Up is beginning to get repeat business and is the manufacturing partner on a new to market product. “Trent, the inmate Joe spoke of earlier invented a product,” details Dustin. “He invented fire hydrant valve to prevent failing fire hydrants from doing hun- dred of thousands of dollars in damage.” Since its inception Rise Up Industries had the vision of a 3000 sq.ft . shop with five ma- chining centers, running two shifts for a total of 12 members. Members are staggered through- out Rise Up’s three-phase program. Each block of training is six months long: entry level, ex- perience level and pure mentor. The goal is for members in the mentor stage to be able to help the newest members just starting out. Teach- ing someone to do something is the best way to learn and get better at it yourself. Their bud- get goal was $470,000, but through individual donations and private foundations they raised $490,000 in no time. “Thanks to generous do- nors we were able to expand into our new shop pretty quickly,” elaborates Joe. “Were able to add members, buy more machines, increase training materials and move into a larger build- ing. Money is great, but what we really need now is partners in the community to hire our graduates.” Rise Up Industries is looking for exposure on a multitude of fronts. First and foremost, they are in need of shops and manufacturers to believe in the program to help place graduates. “Companies who read CNC West Magazine are in a position to offer assistance in a lot of ways,” describes Joe. “Maybe you are not sure of want- ing to hire an ex- inmate, but want to support our efforts. Buy coffee from us; send us your next shirt order. Better yet of course would be to have these guys come interview for positions. I think potential employers will be surprised by how hard these guys work, and their dedication to learning. I encourage any of the readers who might be on the fence about hiring from within our program to come down, meet the guys, and see the operation in person. We have a weekly e-mail newsletter that they can sign up for as well. That list is growing as more people and companies hear about us.” “We take the people that have made the de- cision to change their lives,” continues Dustin. “We are in a position to help them continue down that path with a career in manufacturing.” It took their member Angel Ramirez 27 years of incarceration before he turned his life around in prison enough to be considered for parole. It was another 14 years before he got released. People think you can just fake your way through a parole hearing, but members explained that Nicholas - “I served 24 years of a 32 to life sentence. I’ve been a member since August 14th, 2017. I learned about Rise Up while in prison. It sounded good, and when I got out my friend Angel told me about it again. I’ve known Angel since 2000. I’m getting familiar with the machines loading and unloading. Basic operations to go along with book work. I didn’t know what CNC was, but Angel told me how it could be a career. I’d done construction before so have worked with tools, but nothing like this. I like the computer aspect of the training. I had some computer experience in prison through my various jobs. No internet access, but we worked off of flash drives. Hardest part of transitioning out of prison for me is transportation. It is hard to get a car with no credit. My credit score is up to 624 so I’m on my way, but it is still hard. San Diego Credit Union gave me a secured loan and a secured credit card. I didn’t know about raising my credit score, but the people here at Rise Up helped me through the process at the credit union. I like it here because they understand the requirements of just being released. They are flexible as we get our lives in order. Some employers don’t want to have you meet with your PO at work, but here it is encouraged. We have mentors that volunteer to help us out. With the staff and other members it is a supportive environment. We get paid and get trained. You have to change to get here. The parole board is really keen on your in prison job experience. They pay a lot of attention to your work ethic. They know if you won’t work in prison you would not work when you get out. I wasn’t preparing for the parole board, I was preparing for getting out. By working hard inside it became habit, so when we get released the anger management, and conflict resolution are second nature. When you have a lengthy period of criminality then you need to have a lengthy period of improved lifestyle choices. Readers of CNC West should really come check out Rise Up’s training program. I hope people read this and realize how we are hard working and how excited we are about being a part of manufacturing and not just a bunch of ex thugs.” Angel - “I was sentenced as a juvenile and did 41 years in prison. Got caught up living a life as a gang member. 27 years into my sentence I knew I wanted to change. It was the only way I would ever see my family again. I got out 8 months ago and have been a member here at Rise Up for almost six months now. I’m about to start the second phase of training. I’m learning a life skill to be able to support myself and my family. Ross Provenzano came to the prison and did a talk about Rise Up. Showed us photos and explained to us what the program entailed. I wrote a letter to Joe about the possibility of getting on the list when I got a parole date. I got out February 10th and every day is a better day than the last. Better than I could have dreamed of. The biggest obstacle for me since getting out is managing my money. I went in as a kid. I never had to pay a bill before. I don’t have the computer skills that Nick has so this phone drives me crazy. I have to be dragged out of Target because there are so many things I’ve never seen before. I’m like a kid again. I was so callous in prison, now I’m grateful for everything. This job, sunshine, it’s all great for me. To be out and to be part of the program is awesome. I like working out of books and reading all the information. I’ve been working mostly on the lathe lately and the mill is a little intimidating to me. I worked in the prison machine shop in the early 80’s but it was just a manual lathe. I did graphic arts, blueprints, auto repair and wood working inside. I hope to become a journeyman machinist and move closer to my family up in Tulare. I’m happy with the simple things like driving a car and deciding where I want to go. Freedom is amazing and the support I get from members and staff at Rise Up is invaluable.”