Employment Center for Ex-Cons Opens in Tulsa

An employment center geared toward getting ex-convicts and parolees work is holding its grand opening in Tulsa Thursday.

The Center for Employment Opportunities, based in New York, opened the doors of its Tulsa office in July 2011.

Thursday at 2 p.m., at the Metropolitan Environmental Trust Baling Center on 7621 E. 11th St., the center is celebrating that expansion.

Its mission is to provide employment re-entry services to men and women returning home from prison in Tulsa County, by helping with skill training, job placement and transitional work.

In attendance will be Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Justin Jones and Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CEO Mindy Tarlow.

The nonprofit currently has offices in San Diego, NYC, Albany, Buffalo and Rochester.

The program is supported by the federal Social Innovation Fund (SIF), George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (EMCF).

All participants are referred by their probation or parole officer.

Formerly incarcerated individuals can contact CEO, but will need to be referred into the program.