About DESTA Black Community Network
DESTA works with Montreal’s English-speaking Black community through justice and culture programs for entrepreneurs, creators, cultural workers, and people affected by incarceration. Its established employment programming includes workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, professional development, CV and interview preparation, financial literacy, and life-skills training.
Community Context
For people who are incarcerated or recently released, employment can be shaped by a criminal record, gaps in work history, and the demands of finding a home and rebuilding relationships after their release. Limited French may further narrow job options and make employment services harder to use. Trauma, anxiety, and the effects of incarceration can influence interviews, workplace communication, and job retention.
COF-Supported Project
The Reentry Employment & Workforce Integration Program (REM-CAP) features employment and psychosocial services for English-speaking people in Montreal who are incarcerated or recently released.
The project features:
- Individual employment assessments, action plans, CV development, and application support
- Interview practice, job-search guidance, and follow-up
- Employer referrals, job matching, and workplace-readiness coaching
- Trauma-informed psychosocial services
Participants strengthen their employment prospects while receiving the personal and psychosocial supports needed for long-term workforce integration.
Website: DESTA Black Community Network