The Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) has announced a new partnership with Witness to Mass Incarceration (WITNESS) to launch specialized job training programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
WITNESS is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering those impacted by the justice system, providing resources and support to help them build sustainable careers and reintegrate into their communities.
This initiative, powered by a four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, is set to offer employment training, mentorship, and entrepreneurial opportunities aimed at long-term career success. The program also seeks to address systemic barriers facing justice-involved individuals in achieving stable employment and financial independence.
Under the new partnership, Evie Litwok, founder and executive director of WITNESS, has been named QEDC’s Director of Reentry Services. Litwok, an advocate for justice-involved individuals and a prison system survivor herself, will lead the program from QEDC’s Entrepreneur Space in Long Island City.
“We’re going to help an overlooked community with a new model,” said Litwok. “We’re going to get people into careers they want — and stay with them until they can stand on their own. What we’re doing is transformative.”
The initiative will launch three programs: The Art of Tailoring, Baked and Pastry Arts, and Sewing Machine Technology. Each program will be staffed with industry experts who will provide hands-on training in specific trades, including tailoring, culinary arts, and sewing machine repair. Through pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and incubation opportunities, participants will be guided into sustainable careers with a support system that includes additional training in business essentials such as marketing, tax preparation, and digital skills.
The Art of Tailoring program will teach participants how to make and repair clothing, providing an avenue into the tailoring and fashion industries. Through a cooperative model, graduates of the program will have opportunities to sell their products both online and at local markets.
In the Baked and Pastry Arts program, clients will learn culinary skills from Chef Fresh, also known as “Pastry Papi,” and will work as a team to pitch their creations to coffee shops and other small businesses in the area. The program aims to establish a cooperative agreement to support participants in producing and distributing their goods.
The Sewing Machine Technology program, led by an experienced repair professional, will cover the maintenance of various sewing machine models, setting clients up for roles in the clothing and textile industries.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Litwok shared, “I deal with the trauma of PTSD every day,” noting how her pet dog BooBoo has provided comfort, particularly in coping with the lingering effects of solitary confinement. Having faced numerous challenges after her release, she founded WITNESS in 2016 to offer support to others in similar situations.
The organization’s Suitcase Project, for instance, partners with community and faith-based groups to provide newly released individuals with essentials like cell phones, clothing, and toiletries. Through the MAP Project, WITNESS maintains a network of businesses owned by formerly incarcerated individuals, helping to create economic opportunities within the reentry community.
The QEDC-WITNESS partnership will kick off with a public event, the “Justice Reimagined Holiday Gift Fair,” on Dec. 1. The fair, to be held from noon to 4 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun Community House on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, will feature businesses owned by formerly incarcerated individuals, with vendors selling handmade crafts, baked goods, and clothing. Speakers include Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, WITNESS Board President Khaliah Ali, and New York State Senator Jessica Ramos.
“By connecting people to meaningful careers, we’re also building stronger communities,” Litwok emphasized, looking toward a brighter future for her clients and their families.
