WFL COLLECTIVE™
We are the WFL COLLECTIVE™
The WFL Collective™ (WFLC) is an organization that develops members of its network to elevate and achieve career success. WFLC creates a network of social service, educational and training providers, resulting in connections to employment opportunities and a career path. WFL is a 501(c)(3).
About Us
WFL Collective™
The intention of the WFLC™ is to increase opportunity and economic mobility for people who live in distressed, low-income communities. WFLC™ leverages its relationships with businesses, employers, non-profit partners, and grassroots leaders to help individuals access the resources, skills and professional development needed to obtain and retain employment.
WFLC™ partners with Project Community Capital® (PCC), a social capital platform that connects people in low-income communities with jobs and changes the hiring practices of employers who work on public projects. PCC ensures that subcontractors who have socio-economic goals from state and federal funding can meet their requirements by connecting them with individuals who are “Ready-To-Work.”
WFLC™ was founded by Dr. Gina Merritt, MBA, Principal of Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures (NREUV), LLC, a community development organization that is engaged in a holistic approach to real-estate development in low-income communities. Merritt has more than 29 years of hands-on real estate development, finance, construction, and asset management experience. She has participated in the development of over 8,000 units of housing and has underwritten approximately $4.5B in real estate development transactions
A FEW SUCCESS STORIES
darryl
lamaisa
lamaisa
Darryl, a returning citizen, completed a Vehicles For Change apprenticeship with augmented support from WFLC, gaining valuable skills and securing a job at Ford Motors. He is now thriving in his role and receiving assistance from PCC to purchase a vehicle.
lamaisa
lamaisa
lamaisa
Lamasia, whom we met at a job fair, overcame education and transportation barriers with support from WFLC and our partners, ultimately earning her GED and graduating from The Chart Academy. She has now secured an internship with the community enrichment program, RISE.
carlos
lamaisa
carlos
Carlos, who served eight years in the system, faced numerous challenges including a halfway house placement, lack of clothing, transportation issues, and erroneous child support deductions. WFLC reimbursed him, resolved his child support debt issues, and helped him save for and purchase a car.
OUR MISSION
THE WFL COLLECTIVE™
The mission of The WFL Collective™ is to limit and disrupt the economic and social barriers and increase employment opportunities for people living in low-income, underinvested communities. The WFL Collective™ is founded upon values of empowerment, collaboration, and coalition building. The WFL Collective™ is a group of social service providers that assists, educates, and develops people from low-income communities to elevate themselves and achieve career success. Our network of providers, educational organizations, and training institutions, provide support services, barrier removal and skills development needed to be ready to work, then connect individuals to employers ready to hire.
Economic empowerment originates at the source of success and independence. WFL increases access to the resources people need to meet their unique background and employment interests. WFL helps its partners have greater impact by leveraging complementary resources to provide clients with comprehensive support to more quickly secure employment.
The WFL Collective™ is focused on improving the economic and social quality of life for people living in low-income, disinvested communities and achieving the following goals:
- Empowering people to live independently
- Eliminating economic and social barriers
- Increasing employment rates
