Donate to Emergent Works

Emergent Works, founded in 2020 by Alex Qin, has positively impacted formerly incarcerated individuals and their communities by providing a safe space for tech literacy and coding skills.

A key initiative is the one-on-one virtual mentorship program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, which connects participants with experienced software engineers, enhancing their employment prospects and reducing recidivism.

Led by Executive Director Army Armstead, Emergent Works received a $ 1 million grant from Jack Dorsey’s Start Small fund, allowing for equitable skills training. 

The open-source app Not911 offers an alternative to traditional policing by connecting individuals with counseling and intervention services. Furthermore, partnerships with organizations like the Community Justice Exchange have enabled projects like the Bail Fund App, which helps individuals access bail and provides apprenticeship opportunities.

Today, Emergent Works has a whole leadership staff and serves to support over 40% of directly impacted individuals, with an average recidivism rate of 44%. Through training and educational classes, our alumni are more likely to increase their salary by up to $45K. Making it over the average salary of those without skills-based support.     

Overall, Emergent Works addresses systemic justice issues while empowering individuals to reclaim their stories and achieve success.