


CHICAGO — Earlier this yr, the tech startup ‘Rise Equipment’ got here on-line with the mission of serving to ignored communities of all kinds discover employment.
“We thought if we may construct a software program from the underside up… we may also help ignored job seekers,” stated Matt Strauss, founder and CEO of ‘Rise Equipment.’
At its coronary heart, ‘Rise Equipment’ is a software program firm with an altruistic mission to hyperlink employers with the underserved communities they need to rent.
Henry Florez, an IT skilled, served 4 months for being charged with mortgage fraud. As soon as he acquired out, he shortly discovered the load of that sentence.
“It made me really feel like justice is for the wealthy,” Florez stated. “You serve 4 months, however you’re actually serving for the remainder of your life.”
The Chicago City League’s Andrew Wells noticed the potential in Henry and his background in IT and appeared past the background test.
“In case you’re going into an interview blindly and don’t have connections with a community-based group, as soon as they pull your background up, they won’t belief you at that time,” Wells stated.
Proper now, the town of Chicago is their largest shopper, partnering with a number of nonprofits just like the Chicago City League. Quickly Memphis, Milwaukee and Evanston will quickly be part of the ranks, with ‘Rise Equipment’ being the connection.
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Henry is now the IT profession improvement specialist with ‘Rise Equipment.’
“I’ve already been a fighter,” Florez stated. “You simply have to seek out one individual to say sure.”