Workforce development for real reentry.
We Inspire Inc. provides employment training, peer mentoring, and intervention services for justice-involved youth in Harris County — reducing recidivism and building productive futures through an employment-first approach.
4,000+
Youth referred annually in Harris County
70%
Rearrested within 3 years without support
14–24
Primary age range served
Since 2009
Serving Houston communities
About We Inspire
The system wasn't built for second chances. We are.
We Inspire Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 in Houston, Texas. We provide prevention and intervention services to justice-involved youth in Harris County, with limited outreach to surrounding counties.
Our mission is to address the root causes of recidivism — unemployment, lack of positive role models, and absence of structured activities — through an employment-first approach that connects participants to real opportunities.
Texas Taxpayer Number: 32040312822
SOS File Number: 0801170918 • Active since 09/16/2009
Limited Employment Access
Over 60% of justice-involved individuals in Harris County are unemployed at intake. Without legitimate income, instability increases and vulnerability to negative influence grows.
No Support Systems
Many lack access to credible mentors who understand the reentry process and can provide guidance, accountability, and encouragement during critical transition periods.
Fragmented Services
Existing services focus on enforcement and compliance rather than prevention and intervention, leaving individuals with limited support that addresses root causes of reoffending.
Our Services
An employment-first approach to reentry.
We combine workforce development, peer mentoring, targeted intervention, and community collaboration to break cycles of reoffending and build productive futures.
Job Readiness Training
Structured workshops covering resume building, interview skills, workplace etiquette, and financial literacy. Participants gain the practical tools to compete in the job market.
Employment Placement
Individualized career assessments matched with local employers and paid internship opportunities. Ongoing coaching for job applications, transportation planning, and workplace success.
Peer Mentoring
Each participant is paired with a mentor who has lived experience with the justice system, providing relatable guidance, encouragement, and accountability during critical transition periods.
Transition Support
Intensive case management during reentry, including support with housing, education enrollment, healthcare navigation, and family engagement to strengthen support systems.
Risk Reduction
Workshops focused on decision-making, emotional regulation, goal setting, and personal responsibility. Group sessions build pro-social skills and positive peer relationships.
Community Collaboration
Partnerships with employers, schools, mental health providers, probation officers, and community organizations to ensure a holistic network of support for each participant.
Program in Action
Training, placement, and support — under one roof.
We Inspire combines workforce development with credible peer support so participants leave with skills, confidence, and a clear next step.
Job Readiness Training
Hands-on workshops for resumes, interview skills, workplace etiquette, and financial literacy.
Employment Placement & Career Services
Career assessments, employer connections, and coaching to secure and keep employment.
Performance Goals
Measurable outcomes. Real accountability.
We track every participant's progress through regular check-ins, milestone tracking, and feedback. Our goals are specific, measurable, and tied to real-world outcomes.
75%
Complete job readiness training
Participants who finish the full workforce development curriculum.
60%
Employed within 90 days
Individuals who secure employment or paid internships after program completion.
80%
Report stronger connections
Participants who report increased pro-social connections and positive peer support.
20%
Reduction in re-arrest
Target decrease in re-arrest rates compared to county averages.
Continuous monitoring. Adaptive programming.
We use both quantitative methods — completion rates, employment statistics, recidivism data — and qualitative methods like participant interviews and mentor observations to measure impact and guide decision-making. Activities and supports are adjusted based on participant needs, emerging challenges, and ongoing data analysis.
Quantitative
Completion rates, employment stats, recidivism tracking
Qualitative
Participant interviews, mentor observations, feedback
Stakeholder
Regular reports to funders and community partners
Adaptive
Programming adjusted based on real-time data analysis
Research & Evidence
Grounded in research. Proven in practice.
Our approach draws upon established evidence-based practices, ensuring that methods are both research-driven and responsive to the unique needs of justice-involved individuals.
MDRC & National Institute of Justice
Employment and job readiness training are among the most effective interventions for reducing recidivism among justice-involved individuals.
Urban Institute
Peer mentoring by individuals with lived experience is a promising practice for improving engagement and long-term outcomes.
SAMHSA
Trauma-informed care and motivational interviewing are evidence-based strategies for supporting at-risk populations.
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Individuals without access to employment or supportive services are twice as likely to reoffend. Collaborative, community-based reentry models are best practice.
Harris County Juvenile Probation
Over 4,000 youth are referred annually. Nearly 70% are rearrested within three years of release.
Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Existing reentry services in Houston are fragmented, with most resources concentrated on compliance rather than holistic intervention.
Our Methodology
We Inspire incorporates trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and restorative justice principles into every program component. Staff receive ongoing training in these evidence-based approaches. Our collaborative, community-based reentry model — cited by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as best practice — ensures that services remain responsive to participant needs while maintaining rigorous outcome standards.
Contact Us
Let's work together.
Whether you're a community partner, employer, funder, or individual seeking services — we'd like to hear from you.
Registered Agent
Larry L. Barrett
9438 A Coffee St, Houston, TX 77033