The City of Tallahassee’s TEMPO Program launched a generational poverty “STOP-GAP” initiative in 2020. This initiative allows participants’ guardians, parents, or grandparents to acquire their GED certification regardless of age.

ABOUT US

• A City of Tallahassee community engagement and public safety youth program to facilitate education, workforce training and vocational experience. The initiative seeks to identify, engage, and reconnect Disconnected Youth to educational and employment opportunities.
• Modeled after Raise DC, which is a cross sector partnership between District of Columbia government, non-profits and businesses that aim to provide every youth with opportunities to success from cradle to career.
• TEMPO focuses on those at a crossroad between childhood and adulthood and provides them with a network of education and employment programs.
• TEMPO offers an alternative to those who are most susceptible to crime as a victim, suspect or perpetrator.

SERVICES

• TEMPO provides a path for Disconnected Youth to essential services; enabling vocational education opportunities; connecting youth to workforce training through short-term apprenticeships with local organizations; and enabling the benefit of workforce training through job placement.
• Community outreach efforts include collaboration for workforce training, the creation of apprenticeships, and the opportunity for employment with the goal of identifying living-wage jobs for TEMPO participants.
• Proactive crime prevention initiative which connects with at-risk youth and addresses underlying issues that can make a difference in reducing crime.
• Life coaching, mentoring, and follow-up are provided to Disconnected Youth.

OUR PLAN

• The City of Tallahassee launched the program in October 2017.
• Future Workforce Training & Education
• 5 Year Strategic Plan
• Reduce the percentage of disconnected youth by 30%: 2,100 youth by 2024.
• Enroll 150 TEMPO participants in a technical college or higher education institution by 2024.
• Employ 100 TEMPO participants to a “fair” or “living wage” job through CareerSource Capital Region and local partners by 2024.
• Refer 150 TEMPO participants to programs for attainment of a GED.
• Reduce TEMPO participants recidivism by 90%.
• Future Initiatives
• Refer 3-5 participants to the Tallahassee Fire Department, Consolidate Dispatch Agency, and Tallahassee Police Department programs.
• Refer 3-5 participants to the Goodwill Industries of the Big Bend for employment

TARGET AREAS

• The American Community Survey indicates that there are 57,000 16-to-24-years of age in the Tallahassee area. In accordance with the Measure of America Research on Social Science calculations, approximately 7,000 of those youth have dropped out of school and are not in the labor market. National research suggests that these Disconnected Youth are more likely to become a victim of crime or perpetrate crime against others. They represent a critical demographic for efforts to drive engagement, workforce training, and the dignity of employment.
• TEMPO surveys have been conducted in Promise Zone target areas in South City, Apalachee Ridge, Griffin Heights, Frenchtown, Bond and Jake Gaither communities, and the Lawrence-Gregory and Riley neighborhoods.
• The Promise Zone targets the most issue ridden areas of the City to implement a revitalization plan for community based and culturally relevant programs that can directly improve the lives of residents of those areas.
• Future goals include covering all of Tallahassee's youth.
• Free Star Metro bus passes help provide reliable transportation to educational, employment, and training opportunities.
• A pocket resource guide and referrals to other agencies will be provided for needs like food, housing, daycare providers, and mental health services.

DEMOGRAPHIC

Target demographic – youth ages 16-24 who are out of work and out of school – represent, according to data, Tallahassee’s largest potential gun violence victims and offender pools.  This vulnerable group also includes high school dropouts, those with prior criminal history or who aged out of foster care. Without workforce training, vocational skills, diplomas – and simultaneously weathering the challenges of poverty and mental health-related issues – Disconnected Youth become further disengaged and subject to the appeal of criminal activity.  TEMPO seeks to steer their focus to more viable alternatives by providing education and career attainment.

RESOURCES

• Community Engagement - TEMPO program conducts community outreach services for disconnected youth through face-to-face engagement within targeted neighborhoods, online engagement applications, public service announcements, billboard advertisement, program partners and program participants word of mouth.
• Tallahassee Program Fights Crime by Offering One Opportunity at a Time
  Tallahassee Democrat Article published October 22, 2017, by Karl Etters, Democrat staff writer, article and video used with permission from Tallahassee Democrat.
• TEMPO uses data to highlight issues and opportunities as well as identify effective practices and align community resources.
• TEMPO provides a runway to placement in apprenticeships and job opportunities by connecting participants to community partners.
• Partners in Education and Workforce: Goodwill Industries, Health Science Consulting, Lively Technical Center, and Tallahassee Community College.
• CareerSource, Capital Region, and Lively Technical Center are supported through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.

CareerSource, Capital Region (CSCR):

• TEMPO participants are referred to The CareerSource Dynamics Future Program for screening and assessment for GED examination.
• Participants are assigned to a CSCR specialist and complete a five-week course until exam administration.
• CSCR provides Talent Acquisition Specialists who specialize in helping career seekers and employers to retail, hospitality, education, and other opportunities.

Partner and sponsor, Department of Juvenile Justice
Lively Technical Center, WIOA Information:

• Annual WIOA program course of study for TEMPO participants is $5,000.
• 26% of students are not able to obtain financial assistance.
• Twenty programs are designated as Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act programs that allow students to connect their skill(s) & aptitude with employers.

CONTACTS

Partnership, Sponsorship and Volunteer Opportunities
TEMPO is grateful for all of our sponsors including federal, state, local governments, businesses, non-profit agencies, and individuals. We welcome public and private contributions of resources, funds, services, and manpower. We invite you to join TEMPO as a partner, sponsor, or volunteer.

Please email tempo@talgov.com or call 850-891-8722 if you would like to partner, sponsor or volunteer for TEMPO’s workforce training initiative.