Curious about what it takes to get low-wage workers access to high paying jobs? So are we.

Policy & Advocacy

JOTF is a leading voice on workforce issues in Maryland, supporting a wide range of public policy initiatives and budget decisions, including increased investment in adult education and training, expanding the Earned Income Credit, reducing barriers to work for individuals with criminal justice involvement, and unemployment insurance reform.

• 2023 Legislative Update
• 2023 Policy Agenda
• Policy Updates

Our Programs

JOTF designs programs that create career pathways for low-wage workers. Our programs help Marylanders reach higher-wage jobs in industries that need more skilled workers. We designed the BetterU Construction Training in the building trades, which helps participants become licensed electricians, plumbers, or carpenters. The BetterU Construction Training is dedicated to training Baltimore City residents for the 2023-2024 academic year for careers that can pay more than $18.00 per hour.

• BetterU Construction Training
• JOTF Community Bail Fund

Research & Reports

JOTF conducts research to inform policymakers and the public, and to encourage the development of local programs based on best practices. Our research explores the impact of specific state and local policies on the workforce, and provides timely recommendations on how these policies can better serve Maryland's workers, families, employers, and the economy.

• The Double Pandemic: Socioeconomic and Racial Inequality in the COVID-19 Era
• The Criminalization of Poverty: How to Break the Cycle Through Policy Reform in Maryland
• Connecting Baltimore’s Opportunity Youth to Careers