We're Practitioners Who Got Tired of Watching Good Programs Struggle
SHIFT was created by workforce development professionals who spent years watching the same pattern repeat: organizations buy a curriculum, train their staff once, and then leave them to figure it out alone. Participants drop out. Facilitators burn out. Funders get frustrated. We knew there had to be a better way.
The Problem We Kept Seeing
For years, we worked in and alongside workforce development programs serving people with significant barriers—formerly incarcerated individuals, people in recovery, those experiencing homelessness, and others facing systemic obstacles to employment.
We saw incredible organizations with dedicated staff struggle to maintain consistent outcomes. The problem wasn't lack of commitment. It was lack of support.
Facilitators were:
- •Trained once, then left to improvise
- •Isolated from peers facing similar challenges
- •Expected to track outcomes without clear systems
- •Blamed when completion rates stayed stubbornly low
The result: 40-60% completion rates, high staff turnover, and participants falling through the cracks.
We Built the System We Wish We'd Had
SHIFT is the program we wanted when we were in the trenches—not just a curriculum, but a complete support system.
It's designed by people who've done the work
We're not consultants who've never facilitated a workshop. We've been in the room with participants, dealt with the challenges, and experienced the frustration of being under-supported.
It's based on evidence, not assumptions
Every phase of the SHIFT curriculum is informed by research on what actually works in workforce development, reentry programming, and adult education.
It's built for real constraints
We know nonprofit budgets are tight, staff capacity is limited, and you need results to show funders. SHIFT is designed for those realities.
It's about partnership, not transactions
We don't disappear after you buy the curriculum. We're with you weekly, learning together, and committed to your success.
What We Promise
You will never feel alone in this work. We will show up every week, answer your questions, and provide a community of peers who understand what you're facing.
We will help you build toward outcomes that matter—completion rates you can be proud of and impact you can demonstrate to funders with confidence.
Through the organizations we support, we're committed to creating programs where people facing barriers get the structure, support, and skills they need to succeed long-term.
We will be transparent about what works and what doesn't. Our goal is to help raise the bar across workforce development—not just in our partner organizations, but everywhere.
Why We're Starting Small
We could try to scale quickly, sign up 50 organizations in Year 1, and maximize revenue. But that's not what people need.
Instead, we're starting with 15 Founding Partner organizations. If you're willing to be part of building something better from the ground up, we'd love to partner with you.
Quality over quantity
We want to truly support each partner, not spread ourselves thin trying to serve everyone.
Learning together
Your feedback will shape how SHIFT evolves. We need partners willing to help us refine and improve.
Building proof
We're confident in our approach because it's based on evidence. But we need real-world outcomes data to show the field what's possible.
Sustainable growth
By starting small, we can build a sustainable model that serves organizations well for years to come—not burn out trying to do too much too fast.
What Guides Our Work
Evidence Over Assumptions
We build on research about what works, not what sounds good.
Transparency Over Marketing Speak
We tell you what we know, what we're still learning, and what we can't yet prove.
Partnership Over Transactions
We're in this with you for the long haul, not just until you sign the contract.
Outcomes Over Optics
We care about actual completion rates and employment outcomes, not looking impressive on paper.
Sustainability Over Scale
We'd rather serve 15 organizations well than 100 organizations poorly.
The SHIFT Model
Our three-phase approach is designed to create lasting change through progressive skill-building and accountability.
Foundation
Building self-awareness, identifying barriers, and establishing a personal foundation for change. Participants learn to show up consistently and build the habits that support employment success.
Skills Development
Developing practical skills, setting goals, and creating actionable plans for success. Participants begin to see the connection between daily choices and long-term outcomes.
Workplace Integration
Applying learned skills, building support networks, and sustaining long-term transformation. Participants prepare to transition into stable employment with confidence.
Let's Build This Together
If you're tired of programs that under-deliver, facilitators who feel unsupported, and completion rates that never improve—we should talk.
Schedule a Discovery Call