IN September 2021, the Northern Marianas Technical Institute and Department of Corrections signed a memorandum of agreement to invest in individuals eligible for the department’s outreach program in an effort to decrease recidivism and increase future job opportunities as inmates reintegrate into the community.
On Nov. 15, 2022, NMTech awarded 12 individuals from the Department of Corrections Outreach Program with a nationally recognized certification in Construction: CORE Fundamentals. This certificate is accredited in the United States by the National Center for Construction in Education and Research.
In the past year, students participated in classes at the Department of Corrections Outreach Center conducted by NMTech instructor Luis Deleon Guerrero. The recently completed program was a prerequisite for the construction trades curricula offered at NMTech. This cohort will be advancing to Electrical Level 1 in spring 2023.
This pilot program could not have been possible without the collective efforts of multiple agencies. Special thanks to the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation for funding the Workforce Development Training Scholarship Program, an in-house financial aid opportunity for construction courses; Corrections Commissioner Wally Villagomez; Sgt. Jeff Quitugua; the rest of the Corrections team for their unending support; the NMTech team; and the families and community partners for making this event a huge success!
