URC Grows received a grant to develop a program that provided cannabis education and career opportunities to populations that have been disproportionately affected by cannabis-related offenses, including ex-felons.

Recognizing that neither I nor my team had prior experience in the cannabis industry, Ombuds knew immediately the most resourceful and strategic path forward was to partner with established cannabis industry experts and education providers. We established key partnerships with leaders in cannabis education and employment, including Rob Mejia, a leading professor of Cannabis Studies at Stockton University and founder of Our Community Harvest; the Cleveland School of Cannabis; and Riviera Creek, a premier cannabis cultivator and processor in Youngstown.

This decision allowed us to bypass the lengthy and costly permitting, approval, and accreditation processes, and streamline the program's launch to ensure we could begin enrollment as quickly as possible.

We also conducted comprehensive research and needs assessments to identify the unique barriers marginalized populations face in accessing cannabis education and employment through surveys and focus groups. By addressing these challenges head-on, we ensured that URC Grows could meet participants where they were, offering practical and impactful opportunities. We worked diligently to create a culturally sensitive curriculum with an education-to-career pipeline with pathways that varied in time, difficulty, and commitment to ensure accessibility for all participants. Through strategic partnerships, we secured scholarships to subsidize program costs, providing URC Grows participants with affordable access to accredited education programs.

By combining systems-thinking with a focus on partnerships and cultural sensitivity, we developed a program that empowers individuals to overcome systemic barriers and build sustainable careers in the cannabis industry.

“With me having a prior marijuana felony, the URC Grows program gives me the opportunity to grow and obtain knowledge in the marijuana field. I’ve always been interested in working in the cannabis industry. Lots of my friends without felonies work in the business, and now these classes give me the same opportunities.”

Darrian M. Brooks
Youngstown, Ohio