Foundation for Talent Transformation Supports Midwest Urban Strategies’ Workforce Reentry Initiative
Updated: Sep 8
Mission-focused nonprofit brings expertise, technology, and practical tools to help justice-impacted young adults build pathways to employment and long-term success.
MIAMI, FL — September 9, 2026 — The Foundation for Talent Transformation is proud to support Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS) and its partners in the implementation of MUS RESTART, a regional workforce reentry initiative funded through a $5.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
The initiative will support justice-impacted young adults ages 18 to 24 across Indiana and Ohio as they prepare for employment, build workplace skills, access supportive services, and pursue sustainable career pathways.
The Foundation for Talent Transformation collaborates with workforce, education, and community organizations to strengthen the support they provide to the people they serve. The Foundation brings expertise in workforce development, psychometric assessment, learning design, artificial intelligence, and digital coaching, together with technologies that help partners extend guidance, learning, and support beyond traditional programs and in-person interactions.
As part of MUS RESTART, the Foundation will contribute assessments, online learning resources, and AI-enabled coaching designed to help young adults better understand themselves, build confidence and employability skills, prepare for employment, and navigate the resources and services available to support their reentry journey.
“We’ve built psychometric assessments, online courses, and AI coaches to help people become better equipped to thrive personally and professionally,” said Eric Shepherd, Executive Director of the Foundation for Talent Transformation. “This project is especially inspiring for all of us because it allows us to apply our expertise and resources to help people returning from incarceration rebuild their lives, reconnect with the workforce, and determine what comes next. If the technology, tools, and expertise we’ve developed can make that journey a little easier and help someone see possibilities they may not have seen before, that is exactly the kind of work we want to be doing.”
The Foundation’s approach is designed to strengthen, rather than replace, the human relationships that are central to successful workforce and reentry programs. Technology can help career coaches, case managers, educators, and workforce professionals provide more consistent guidance, reinforce learning between meetings, connect individuals with relevant resources, and help participants maintain momentum toward their goals.
The MUS RESTART initiative reflects the Foundation’s broader commitment to supporting mission-aligned organizations with expertise and technology that can expand their reach and strengthen their impact. Across its work, the Foundation focuses on helping people understand themselves and others better, develop the capabilities they need to succeed, and build confidence in their ability to move forward.
At the heart of that mission is a simple principle: people should have the opportunity to thrive personally and professionally, regardless of their background, the challenges they have faced, or where they began their journey.
About the Foundation for Talent Transformation
The Foundation for Talent Transformation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping people understand themselves and others so they can thrive personally and professionally. The Foundation partners with workforce, education, and community organizations to provide psychometric assessments, online learning, AI-powered coaching, and other technologies that strengthen self-awareness, communication, employability, confidence, and lifelong development.
Through its partnerships, the Foundation combines mission-driven expertise with practical technology to help organizations extend their reach, strengthen the support they provide, and create new opportunities for the people and communities they serve.
About Midwest Urban Strategies
Midwest Urban Strategies, Inc. (MUS) is a leading workforce intermediary that convenes urban workforce development boards to drive economic opportunity and social mobility. MUS collaborates with workforce boards, government agencies, employers, and community organizations to develop innovative workforce solutions that address labor market needs while supporting underserved populations.
###
Media Contact:
Eric Shepherd
Executive Director
Foundation for Talent Transformation
.png)