Launching 2026 — Chicago & Columbus
Opportunityends violence.
The ReachOut Foundation creates paid apprenticeships and real career pathways for young adults in underserved communities. Because violence isn’t a values problem — it’s an opportunity problem.
Our mission
“We’re building bridges between business, education, and community — creating real career pathways for young men and women who deserve a chance to succeed.”
— Art Ferrara, Founder
Chicago, IL
Violence prevention through economic opportunity on the South & West Side
10 apprentices
Columbus, OH
Education-to-employment pathways in partnership with local schools
10 apprentices
Year one targets
20
Paid apprentices
Cohort 1
Cohort 1
80%
Job placement
within 12 months
within 12 months
2
Launch
cities
cities
$0
Cost to
apprentices
apprentices
"Our neighborhoods don't lack talent — they lack opportunity. The ReachOut Laboratory is our answer to that."
Art Ferrara — Founder, ReachOut for Change Foundation
Why we exist
The cycle of violence is really a cycle of missing opportunity.
In Chicago's most affected neighborhoods, youth unemployment can exceed 50%. In Columbus, thousands of students graduate into a job market that wasn't built for them. Sustained employment is one of the most powerful predictors of reduced violence.
Yet most solutions focus on policing, counseling, or charity. We believe in a different approach: give people real work, real skills, and real futures.
"Gang violence doesn't come from a lack of values. It comes from a lack of opportunity."
Our answer: the ReachOut Laboratory
Real work, real pay
Every apprentice earns a wage from day one, working on live projects inside ReachOut.cloud.
With the community, not above it
We partner with established local organizations. We show up alongside them — not as visitors.
A replicable national model
Chicago and Columbus are Cohort 1. Designed from day one to expand to Detroit, Cleveland, and beyond.
Three tracks, one goal
Technology, Business Operations, and Digital Production — each leads to a certificate and career pathway.
The model
Not charity. Not a speech. A system.
Three pillars that make the ReachOut Laboratory fundamentally different from every other workforce program.
01
Business-led training
Apprentices work inside ReachOut.cloud on live projects. Actual technology and logistics work, under real mentors, with real stakes.
02
Community-rooted
Recruitment through trusted local organizations. Community voices on advisory councils. We are with these neighborhoods.
03
Paid from day one
Every apprentice earns a wage. No unpaid internships. A paycheck is the foundation of dignity and trust.
The apprentice journey
From recruitment to career in 9 months.
A structured pathway that builds skills, confidence, and a professional network from day one.
1
Recruit
Nominated by trusted community partners
Ongoing
2
Orient
Workplace culture, goal setting, baseline skills
2 weeks
3
Train
Hands-on learning in Tech, Ops, or Design
3 months
4
Earn
Paid project work under real mentors
4–6 months
5
Place
Career placement or Cohort 2 leadership
Target: 80%
ReachOut Laboratory
Five tracks. One destination: your career.
Every apprenticeship is paid, hands-on, and built around real work inside a real company. No prerequisites — just curiosity, commitment, and the drive to build something for yourself.
Track 01
Creative Design
“You already have an eye for what looks good. We’ll give you the tools to prove it professionally.”
What you’ll actually do
Design digital and print materials for real client projects — layouts, brand assets, social graphics, and product catalogs. Learn industry-standard software used by designers at every major company in the world. Your work ships to real clients from day one.
Skills you’ll walk away with
Adobe InDesignPhotoshopIllustratorPrint productionBrand guidelinesDigital layoutFile prep & export
Where this takes you
Junior Graphic Designer
Print Production Artist
Digital Content Creator
Brand Coordinator
You’re a great fit if…
✓You notice when something looks off — fonts, spacing, colors
✓You’ve ever made a flyer, edited a photo, or designed anything for fun
✓You’re patient, detail-oriented, and take pride in your work
Industry entry range
$18 – $26 / hr
Based on national market data for junior designers — not a program guarantee
Track 02
Variable Data Programming
“Most people have never heard of this skill. That’s exactly why it’s one of the most valuable ones you can have.”
What you’ll actually do
Build systems that make mass communication feel personal. Imagine a company sending 500,000 mailers where every single one has a different name, image, offer, and layout — automatically generated from data. You’ll learn to design and program those systems. It’s where design meets data meets code.
Skills you’ll walk away with
VDP scriptingData mappingFusionPro / XMPieDatabase logicPrint automationTemplate designPersonalization tech
Where this takes you
VDP Developer / Programmer
Marketing Technologist
Data-Driven Print Specialist
Personalization Engineer
You’re a great fit if…
✓You like puzzles — figuring out how systems fit together
✓You’re comfortable with spreadsheets or have tried any kind of coding
✓You like the idea of building something that runs itself
Industry entry range
$22 – $38 / hr
VDP specialists are rare — demand consistently exceeds supply nationwide
Track 03
Modern Coding
“You don’t need a computer science degree to build things that matter. You need to start.”
What you’ll actually do
Write real code for real applications used by real customers. Build web interfaces, work with APIs, learn how modern software gets made from the inside. You’ll contribute to actual product development — not practice exercises — from early in your apprenticeship.
Skills you’ll walk away with
HTML & CSSJavaScriptGit & version controlREST APIsResponsive designBasic back-end logicCode review
Where this takes you
Junior Front-End Developer
Web Technician
Software Development Apprentice
UI Developer
You’re a great fit if…
✓You’ve ever been curious about how websites or apps actually work
✓You’ve tried any coding — even a YouTube tutorial counts
✓You don’t give up when something doesn’t work the first time
Industry entry range
$20 – $35 / hr
Based on national market data for junior developers — not a program guarantee
Track 04
Quality Assurance
“The best QA engineers aren’t just testers — they’re the people who care too much to let something ship broken.”
What you’ll actually do
Test software, products, and production outputs before they reach customers. Find bugs, document problems, verify fixes, and build the systems that make sure quality never slips. QA is the safety net of every technology company — and the people who do it well are irreplaceable.
Skills you’ll walk away with
Test case writingBug documentationRegression testingQA workflowsAttention to detailProcess thinkingClient-facing reporting
Where this takes you
QA Analyst
Software Tester
Production Quality Coordinator
Process Improvement Specialist
You’re a great fit if…
✓You notice things other people miss — typos, misalignments, things slightly off
✓You’re methodical — you like doing things in order and doing them right
✓You take pride in things being done correctly, not just done quickly
Industry entry range
$18 – $28 / hr
QA roles have among the lowest turnover in tech — high stability, high demand
Track 05
Technical & Client Support
“Every great tech company runs on two things: great products and great people who support them. This track makes you both.”
What you’ll actually do
Be the bridge between the technology and the people who use it. Troubleshoot problems, guide clients through solutions, document processes, and become the person everyone trusts to figure it out. This track builds communication skills as fast as technical ones — and that combination is rare and valuable.
You’re a great fit if…
✓People come to you when something’s broken because you stay calm
✓You’re a natural communicator — you can explain complex things simply
✓You want a fast path to employment — this track has the shortest runway to a job offer
Skills you’ll walk away with
Help desk systemsTicketing & triageClient communicationTechnical writingCRM platformsRemote support toolsAccount management basicsSLA management
Where this takes you
IT Support Specialist
Customer Success Associate
Technical Account Manager
Help Desk Analyst
Industry entry range
$17 – $25 / hr
Fastest track to first job offer — most employers hire directly from support roles
Ready to find your track?
You don’t have to know which one yet. Apply and we’ll help you figure out where your strengths fit best. All five tracks start with the same two weeks of orientation — together.
Organizational structure
Built to scale from day one.
A clean nonprofit/business partnership that keeps us agile, fundable, and credible at every level.
ReachOut for Change Foundation
501(c)(3) nonprofit parent — grants, donors, board governance
ReachOut Lab — Chicago
Violence prevention focus, South & West Side partnerships
Cohort 1 — 10 apprentices
ReachOut Lab — Columbus
Education-to-employment, school & CTE partnerships
Cohort 1 — 10 apprentices
Employer & training partner
ReachOut.cloud
For-profit — employs apprentices, provides mentors & live project work
The funding ask
$250,000 to launch two labs and change 20 lives.
Transparent, purpose-built, and designed to attract both philanthropic and corporate investment.
$250,000
Year one seed capital — covering both Chicago and Columbus
100% applied to program operations, facility, apprentice wages, and staff
Founder & corporate seed
$50,000
Founder pledge + in-kind contribution. Establishes credibility and match opportunity.
Founder match: first $25K donated
In-kind: equipment, mentorship, workspace
2–3 early corporate allies at $10–25K
Foundation & grant partners
$100,000
Private and family foundations focused on workforce development, youth, and violence prevention.
MacArthur Foundation — community safety
Polk Bros Foundation — youth & workforce
JPMorgan Chase — Future of Work
State workforce grants (IL + OH)
Corporate sponsorships
$75,000
Companies who need workforce pipelines and want visible community impact.
Logistics: FedEx, Grainger, XPO
Tech: CDW, Accenture, Nationwide
Manufacturing: ITW, Honda, Worthington
Community & crowdfunding
$25,000
Grassroots campaign tied to the press launch. Doubles as visibility driver for both cities.
GiveButter crowdfund campaign
"10 Apprentices. 2 Cities. 1 Mission."
Community fundraiser events both cities
Sponsorship tiers
Bronze partner
$5,000
Community Supporter
Partial apprentice sponsorship
Website & event recognition
Annual impact report
Mentor volunteer opportunity
Silver — most popular
$10,000
Lab Sponsor
Sponsor 2 full apprenticeships
Logo on lab signage & press materials
Named in press release at launch
Quarterly impact calls
Apprentice certificate presentation
Gold — founding partner
$25,000
Founding Partner
Sponsor 5 full apprenticeships
Founding Partner — permanent designation
Named at press conference
Board advisory opportunity
Preferred hiring pipeline access
Board & leadership
Built with credibility from day one.
A founding board balancing business acumen, community roots, education expertise, and financial oversight.
AF
Art Ferrara
Founder & Chair
CEO, ReachOut.cloud. Technology entrepreneur with 20+ years in logistics and print technology.
TBD
Vice Chair
Education / Youth Leader
Principal, CTE Director, or youth organization leader. Brings school and student access.
TBD
Treasurer
Finance & Grant Oversight
CPA or financial advisor. Manages grant compliance, budgets, and annual 990 filings.
TBD
Community Reps
Chicago & Columbus Voices
Two seats held for community partners from each city. Non-negotiable from day one.
Target community partners
Chicago
Chicago CRED
Founded by Arne Duncan. Violence interruption + employment for highest-risk young adults.
Chicago
BUILD Chicago
Youth mentoring with deep roots in Austin and other West Side neighborhoods.
Chicago
Cara Collective
Employment and social enterprise for people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Columbus
Columbus City Schools CTE
Career and Technical Education programs aligned with our training tracks.
Columbus
OhioMeansJobs
State workforce development network — candidate pipeline and co-funding.
Both Cities
Faith & Block Leaders
Pastors, aldermen, and trusted community voices providing referrals and access.
Launch timeline
From formation to press conference in 90 days.
A fast-moving, phased plan built for immediate visibility and momentum in both cities.
WK
1–2
1–2
Phase 1 — Legal Foundation
Form the entity, secure the EIN
File Articles of Incorporation, obtain EIN, open nonprofit bank account. Begin Form 1023-EZ. Recruit founding board including community reps from both cities.
WK
3–4
3–4
Phase 2 — Brand & Outreach
Brand the foundation, begin community meetings
Finalize identity. Launch website. Personal outreach to community leaders — lead with listening. Connect with 3–5 nonprofit partners per city to nominate Cohort 1 candidates.
WK
5–8
5–8
Phase 3 — Facility & Funding
Secure facilities, launch funding campaign
Lease ReachOut Laboratory space in each city (2,000–5,000 sq ft). Begin corporate sponsorship outreach. Submit first grant applications. Source donated equipment.
WK
9–12
9–12
Phase 4 — Launch
Press conference — introduce Cohort 1
Dual-city press events: Columbus at the school, Chicago at the new facility. Introduce first 10 apprentices per city. Branded vehicle at both events.
MO
6+
6+
Phase 5 — Scale
Document outcomes, prepare Cohort 2
Track placements, gather testimonials, publish impact data. Apply for USDOL grants. Target 25+ apprentices in Cohort 2. Begin conversations with Detroit and Cleveland.
Join us
Be part of the solution.
Whether you're a business leader, community organization, individual donor, or someone who simply believes opportunity can end violence — there's a place for you in this work.
Email us
info@reachoutforchange.org
We respond within 48 hours
We respond within 48 hours
Community partners
Chicago and Columbus organizations ready to refer Cohort 1 candidates
Corporate sponsors
Download our full sponsorship deck and year-one impact projections