When the St. Paul police department put out a call late last year for licensed officers, Ehdoh Ezekisoe showed up at an informational session ready to join their ranks.
But the St. Paul resident who immigrated from a Thai refugee camp to the United States in 2005 didnt have the schooling or licensing required to apply for the police academy. St. Paul police Sgt. Pamela Barragan, a member of the departments community engagement unit, saw potential in Ezekisoe and stayed in touch with him; thered be an opportunity opening up soon.
On Wednesday, St. Paul police unveiled its first ever Law Enforcement Career Path Academy, a program aimed at mentoring recruits from diverse backgrounds who face financial, educational and employment hurdles.
I related a lot to him because I moved [to St. Paul] from Ecuador, Barragan said. He doesnt have a traditional support system.
For Ezekisoe, 22, who is Karen, its a chance to move beyond years of restaurant work and a short stint as a contract carpenter. Hes been working as a security guard since late 2016.
I want to have a career that I can be proud of, said Ezekisoe, who plans to apply. I think I can be a role model.
Between 20 to 25 participants are expected to enroll in the 2-year program that starts in April. A combination of private and public funds will help pay the recruits a stipend of $10.50 an hour while they are in class at Century College working toward their law enforcement degree. Senior Cmdr. John Lozoya, head of the community engagement unit, said the stipend is only for classes this summer, and that the department is working with Job Corps to find recruits employment afterward as they continue their education.
Although the program is aimed at diversifying the department and fostering interest among recruits between ages 18-24 from underrepresented groups, anyone of any age who faces financial and educational barriers will be considered, Lozoya said.
Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties, a private nonprofit, will also assist recruits with access to educational programs, transportation and employment.
The program was created because traditional recruitment efforts, such as job fairs, werent reaching underrepresented communities. Of the departments sworn staff of 619, about 25 percent are officers of color. Meanwhile, about 40 percent of St. Paul residents are people of color.
That really wasnt meeting the needs of our community, Lozoya said of traditional recruitment efforts. We are very intentional about recruiting from our own community and surrounding communities.
Recruits will be expected to volunteer 40 hours per week with the department this summer, and continue working with a St. Paul police mentor throughout their participation, helping with youth programs and outreach, and going on ride-alongs.
The program ultimately aims to act as a pipeline for new hires in St. Paul, but Lozoya expects that some recruits might change their minds and shift out of law enforcement, and completing the program doesnt guarantee anyone a spot with the department.
The bigger goal, Lozoya and Barragan said, is to create a diverse pool of educated and licensed officers ready to apply for jobs across Minnesota. If more funding is secured, Lozoya said, the department would consider starting another class next year.
We help each other, Barragan said. We rather have diversity across all law enforcement not just in St. Paul.
Applications are being accepted through March 31 at http://www.stpaul.gov/jobs.
See the original post here:
New St. Paul police program aims to mentor recruits - Minneapolis Star Tribune
- Twin Oaks Intentional Community - Twin Oaks Intentional ... [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- The Camphill Assocation of North America Communities [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2016]
- Cohousing - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 11th, 2016]
- Communes: the pros & cons of intentional community ... [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2016]
- Jewish Intentional Communities Conference - Hazon [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2016]
- Common Fire Beacon-Newburgh | Creating diverse ... [Last Updated On: January 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 2nd, 2017]
- Intentional Housing Communities | www.hampshire.edu [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2017]
- A First Gen Lawyer-Turned-Entrepreneur Pioneers New Standards for College Freshmen - Huffington Post [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Disparities in minority unemployment targeted by Iowa officials - DesMoinesRegister.com [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- ACE program benefits low-income communities - Observer Online [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Want a happy old age? Get your friends to be your neighbours - Independent Online [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Coalition Calls Itself The 'Eyes, Ears & Voice' Of Pittsburgh's Black Community - 90.5 WESA [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- 'A community remembers' coming to Hesston - Butler County Times Gazette [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Krista Tippett February 01, 2017 - America Magazine [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Serving the most diverse urban area on the planet - New York Nonprofit Media [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- To truly serve the public, community stations must apply standards for what's said on-air - Current [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- Here's what went down at the NYC launch of Ashley Biden's charitable clothing line - Technical.ly [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Appalachian's Alternative Service Experience among nation's top 10 higher education institutions for number of programs - Appalachian State University [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Pastor: We must build bridges between police and local black communities - Fort Worth Star Telegram (blog) [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Chris Wood: Now more than ever localize! - vtdigger.org [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- A Business Plan for Healthy Communities - Hospitals & Health Networks [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- The Death of the Ski Bum and Intentional Tourism - The Catalyst [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Heroin hits home: Highways provide "easy access" for drug trafficking in Franklin County - Herald-Mail Media [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- How Anarchists and Intentional Communities Are Reacting to ... [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Ohio Continues with Next Phase of InsideOut Initiative to Combat Win-at-All Costs Sports Mentality - Norwalk Reflector [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Microsoft Executives to Keynote Summit EMEA 2017 Conference - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Marnita's Table set for Wednesday - Daily Globe [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- David Littlewood, guest columnist: Time to repeal Dodd-Frank Act and free up our community banks - Waco Tribune-Herald [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Ithaca organization encourages people to participate in National Random Acts of Kindness Week - The Ithaca Voice [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Portland groups form coalition to eradicate hate - KOIN.com [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Nash says 'there's more to do' on diversity at State of the County address - Gwinnettdailypost.com [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2017]
- Anson County community meeting to fight poverty planned for Feb. 18 - Ansonrecord [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2017]
- Spreading the Faith: Moving Coins and Moving Communities - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- If It Walks Like a Duck - ChicagoNow (blog) [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Immigrant Round-ups Stir Fears - Consortium News [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Pace: What Should I Give Up This Year? - Covington News [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- J Mase III of #BlackTransMagick seeks to redistribute resources - Daily Illini [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- South Side getting trauma center, but it'll be far more than just an emergency room - Fox 32 Chicago [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- St. Louis Park cohousing community welcomes home all ages - Minneapolis Star Tribune [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- The Benedict Option and Rod Dreher's LGBT Challenge - The Atlantic - The Atlantic [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Mark Sundeen looks for a better way to live - Missoula Independent [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Cohousing communities gain popularity, including here in Nashville - WKRN.com [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- The Christian Retreat From Public Life - The Atlantic [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- New senior living community eyeing Waxahachie - Waxahachie Daily Light [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- Better health needs a diverse workforce - Greenville Daily Reflector [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Businesses: State needs more immigrants - Mankato Free Press [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Cohousing communities gain popularity - WDTN [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Letters: Dismiss Schimel, others for maps - The Sheboygan Press [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Drums, Voices, and Circles - Memphis Democrat [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Food: Four Short Talks brings community to the table - Dailyuw [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Family School rebuts report on lack of diversity - Coastal View News [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- The Wall Street Journal explores trends in Christian community life sort of - GetReligion (blog) [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Renting land to highest bidder stumbling block for young people looking to start in agriculture - INFORUM [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2017]
- Transportation/Traveling While Living Off Grid - Mother Earth News [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- New School Board President Believes Schools Belong to Communities - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration) [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Worcester's retiree health costs 'unsustainable' - telegram.com - Worcester Telegram [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2017]
- 12 on Tuesday: Leslie Orrantia - WISC - Channel 3000 - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3 [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- By walking the beat, Kalamazoo officers nurture genuine ... - Michigan Radio [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- Sometimes the Grass Really is Greener - Memphis Democrat [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- Is Clallam opening the door to tiny houses? | Sequim Gazette - Sequim Gazette [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- A New Kind of Homeless Village is Coming to Kenton. It's a Big Deal. - The Portland Mercury (blog) [Last Updated On: March 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 10th, 2017]
- Why We Need the Benedict Option and How It Doesn't Have to ... - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: March 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 10th, 2017]
- National Expert Shares Thoughts on Environmental Justice - WUWM [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- The Promise of Paradise features area - 100 Mile House Free Press [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2017]
- Speak out about your experiences - Hibbing Daily Tribune [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2017]
- Trust comes in several varieties - Muncie Star Press [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- Intentional neighborhoods take root across country - LancasterOnline [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- my family did the benedict option before it was cool and here's why it doesn't work - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- Saint Benedict's Mandate - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- Cohousing Part I: Creating community and reducing social isolation - Michigan State University Extension [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- Searching for a greater interfaith understanding - Seattle Globalist [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- The fight for affordable housing in Jefferson Park continues - Chicago Tribune [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- A 'Justin Option'? Justin Martyr and the Ben-Op - National Catholic Register (blog) [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- The Groves of Academe: On Keep the Damned Women Out - lareviewofbooks [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Curating Community through Intentional Placemaking - Urban Land [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Local ties: New tailgate market locations highlight business and community connections - Mountain Xpress [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2017]
- How Power Street Theatre Company is taking on representation in the arts - Generocity [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2017]
- Open house will celebrate Folk Art Guild's 50 years - News - The ... - Penn Yan Chronicle-Express (blog) [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2017]
- Archbishop: In 'post-Christian world' fidelity, charity, truth stand out - CatholicPhilly.com [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2017]
- How Are New Ecclesial Movements Changing the Church? - Commonweal [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2017]