What We Do
Empowering Pathways: Expanding Opportunities Through the Clean California Initiative
From the beginning....Empowering Pathways: Expanding Opportunities Through the Clean California Initiative
From the beginning....
Empowering Pathways: Expanding Opportunities Through the Clean California Initiative
Back 2 Work keeps California clean while creating pathways to long-term success for formerly incarcerated individuals, transitional youth, and Californians overcoming barriers to work through our transitional employment program.
Each year, we employ more than 6,000 Californians through a network of 99 subcontractor work crews across 36 counties. In addition to paid, transitional employment, we provide career readiness services, advanced training, mentorship, and wraparound support designed to prepare graduates for full-time, permanent careers.
We also offer pre-apprenticeship programs that open doors to the tech industry, building skills in software application design, development, and maintenance.
Our comprehensive approach helps individuals move into sustainable employment and build stable, fulfilling futures. We don’t just offer employment - we create lasting pathways to career growth.
Decade of Progress and Innovation
Decade of Progress and Innovation
Decade of Progress and Innovation
Back 2 Work began in Sacramento, where Caltrans faced significant challenges with highway litter. In response, Caltrans partnered with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to launch the first Back 2 Work crews. This partnership not only helped clean up the highways but also created vital job opportunities for justice-impacted individuals, supporting their reentry into the workforce and stability after incarceration.
In 2013, the program’s success led to its integration into Butte County Office of Education's Statewide Local Support Services Division, formally establishing the Back 2 Work department. This collaboration inspired CDCR and Caltrans to expand the program statewide, extending its impact to employ thousands of individuals overcoming barriers to employment.
Back 2 Work grew even further with the 2021 launch of Governor Newsom’s Clean California Initiative, a transformative investment in public infrastructure and workforce development. Today, we operate in 99 work crews in 36 counties, employing more than six thousand individuals annually and proving that a cleaner California can go hand in hand with building a more inclusive economy.
How it's going!
How it's going!
How it's going!
By 2021, with the launch of Governor Newsom's Clean California Initiative, Back 2 Work saw a major expansion in its operations. Today, we serve over 36 counties with 99 work crews, providing opportunities to more than six thousand individuals annually. Our program supports formerly incarcerated individuals, transitional youth, and marginalized populations, helping them secure transitional employment through subcontractor crews while staying true to our mission of keeping California clean and creating pathways to long-term success.
Beyond work on our crews, we also offer career readiness services and supportive resources. Participants gain access to training, mentorship, and wraparound services designed to prepare them for full-time, permanent career opportunities. Through these comprehensive offerings, we help individuals transition into sustainable employment, empowering them to build stable, fulfilling futures. We focus not just on providing opportunities but on creating lasting pathways to career growth.
But our journey doesn’t stop here. We've expanded into apprenticeship opportunities, offering pre-apprenticeships in IT and training in automotive, OSHA 10, safety, and manufacturing. We're continually evolving, excited to expand further and create even more opportunities for our participants.
