Why AGARG

"A Journey Ahead Representing God"

Many Americans very often experience serious problems finding appropriate, permanent, unsubsidized and moderately well-paid employment because they lack job-seeking experience, a marketable work history and occupational skills; furthermore, many employers refuse to hire individuals with criminal records. It should be noted however, that frequently those individuals are victims of circumstances beyond their control.

Our extensive research suggests that one or more factors usually contribute to an individual's inability to compete for a "good job." Poor parenting and substandard education, particularly in middle childhood, seem to have the greatest negative impact on future job seekers. In addition many individuals will very often become involved in some form of criminal activity as a result of being unemployed or underemployed.

Underemployment is a condition whereby an individual has the intellect, ability and desire to efficiently meet the challenges of a particular position but has to settle for a much lower paying position because of certain perceived deficits by potential employers. Very often underemployment leads to unemployment. In the case of ex-offenders, these circumstances seriously affect the ex-offender’s stability because unemployment is consistently associated with high recidivism rates.

We will hire and train individuals that do not meet traditional job requirements but possess the intellect, desire and ability to work for a cutting edge performance driven company. Our specific focus will be underemployed nonviolent ex-offenders who have little or no post secondary education. Our goal is to provide opportunities for members of that group that cannot secure professional employment due to criminal records.

We will offer a significant portion of those individuals entrepreneurial opportunities in an effort to provide a viable alternative to participation in criminal activity as a primary means of support.

We will encourage other employers to participate in our effort to hire nontraditional candidates for positions that represent legitimate potential for career growth.

"When we constrain the ability of ex-offenders to obtain livable employment, we are in essence, forcing them back into a life of crime which results from personal financial desperation!"

Judge Myron V. Anderson