Take2

🌟 Thrilling Milestone for Take2: A New Chapter Begins with Department of Corrections Contract 🌟 We are beyond excited to share some phenomenal news with our Take2 community and supporters. After years of dedication, hard work, and unwavering belief in our mission, we are proud to announce that Take2 has officially signed a contract with the Department of Corrections NZ! This momentous occasion is not just a win for Take2 but a beacon of hope and promise for the countless individuals who stand to benefit from the impactful work we are set to undertake together with NZ Corrections. The journey to this point has been long, filled with challenges and learning experiences, but every step has been worth it for the opportunity to make a real difference. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out thank you to every team member, partner, and supporter who has stood by us through the years. Your faith in our vision, your contributions, and your encouragement have been the bedrock of our perseverance and success. We are particularly grateful to the Department Corrections for their trust in Take2. This collaboration symbolises a shared commitment to rehabilitation, education, and ultimately, the transformation of lives supporting people to make changes to their lives. Together, we are poised to create an environment that fosters growth, learning, and positive change, and safer communities. #Take2NZ #PartnershipForChange #CelebratingSuccess

📢 Take2 Featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review 📢 We are thrilled to announce that Take2's programme has been featured in the prestigious Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR)! This recognition is a significant milestone for us, highlighting the transformative impact of our work on incarcerated individuals in New Zealand. The SSIR article takes a deeper look into how our coding and life-skills programme is changing lives, reducing recidivism, and creating pathways to meaningful employment post-release. It also highlights the power of community support, partnerships, and the resilience of our students. Stanford Social Innovation Review is a leading publication that shares innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing social issues. Being featured by SSIR amplifies our mission and helps us spread the word about the importance of second chances. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gXJFHrf9 Thank you for your continued support in helping us create brighter futures! #Take2 #SecondChances #SocialImpact #Education #StanfordSocialInnovationReview

🌟 An Inspiring Visit from Adam Goodes! 🌟 What an absolute privilege to have Adam Goodes speak to our students in the Mary Wade classroom last week. Adam's reputation as a public figure preceded him, making his visit all the more special - for our students and teachers alike! Adam shared a powerful and moving personal story, touching on his family, challenging childhood, pivotal choices, and the key inflection points that shaped his journey from a sporting legend to a successful businessman and advocate for social change. Highlights from Adam's time with us included: 🤝 Economic Empowerment: Insights into his business ventures and initiatives aimed at empowering Indigenous communities economically. 🤝 Transformation: The importance of evolving identities and letting our responsibilities guide our transformations. 🤝 Open Door Moments: Adam highlighted the significant 'open door' moments in his life, paralleling them with the opportunities Take2 offers our students. 🤝 Positive Surroundings: The value of surrounding oneself with support while eliminating negative influences. 🤝 Community Impact: Encouraging students to consider how the Take2 programme will transform not just their lives but also those of their families and loved ones, and their role in uplifting others in similar situations. 🤝 Opportunities: The unpredictable nature of life and the empowerment that comes from seizing opportunities. Adam's visit was nothing short of inspirational, leaving our students motivated and ready to embrace the opportunities ahead. Thank you, Adam, for sharing your wisdom and experiences with us! #Take2AU #Inspiration #AdamGoodes #SecondChances #CommunityEmpowerment

🌟 Industry Insights at Lightspeed! 🌟 Some of our Take2 students recently had the fantastic opportunity to visit Lightspeed Commerce, a leading software solutions provider for global retail and hospitality businesses. The session was packed with valuable career and interview coaching, helping our students prepare for their future roles in the tech industry. One student shared their experience: "It was so amazing. They were very insightful & helpful with the techniques before, during & after interviews - great constructive feedback." A massive thanks to the team at Lightspeed for hosting us and sharing your wisdom with our students. Your support is really appreciated! 💛 #Take2NZ #CareerCoaching #InterviewSkills #SecondChances

🌟 Embracing Mindfulness: Welcoming Akriti to Mary Wade 🌟 We had an incredible meditation and mindfulness workshop recently in the Mary Wade classroom, led by the wonderful Akriti Sharma from the Kirby Institute & the Good Data Institute. Our students were exceptionally open and receptive to all the activities, including object attention, body scans, and mindful communication, amongst others. 🌿✨ Akriti shared invaluable techniques and strategies for incorporating mindfulness and meditation into daily life, highlighting the personal and professional benefits. It was a truly enlightening experience for everyone involved. Our teachers were thrilled to join the workshop, learning as much as the students did! This workshop was the perfect way to kick off the next chapter of our self-transformation curriculum. We are excited to continue fostering an environment that nurtures growth, mindfulness, and overall well-being. Akriti, we are so grateful you took the time to share your experiences and your advice with our students - our students even asked later if we could extend our morning meditation time, so you truly had an impact! 💛 #Take2AU #Mindfulness #SelfTransformation #Community #Education #Empowerment

✨ Open Position at Take2 Sydney: Web Development Teacher ✨ Are you passionate about social justice and Tech for Good? Are you looking for a purpose in your work? Do you believe that education and technology have the power to unlock economic opportunities? If so, we are looking for you! Take2 is hiring a full-time Web Development Teacher, located in Sydney, Australia. This role will provide an exciting and rewarding journey; you will be supporting individuals within the New South Wales criminal justice system to develop valuable skills needed for a second chance at life. You will be a part of a global community of award-winning organisations inspiring change in justice systems across the world. This is a role that improves your ability to teach, mentor, inspire and innovate. You’ll be assisting Take2’s first global expansion, bringing our internationally recognised program to the shores of Sydney. Inspired? Know someone who could be the perfect fit? Check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/gHg25Q5r

We're excited to join the lineup of Australia's top innovators in this year's Parliamentary Innovative Tech Showcase, hosted by the Tech Council of Australia - Monday 01 July 2024 at Australian Parliament House, we'll see you there!  Register your attendance: https://lnkd.in/gbBiiBU2  #TechCouncilAus #TechEvents #AustralianTech #InnovationShowcase

Attention tech community - the Parliamentary Innovative Tech Showcase, organised by the Tech Council of Australia, is the place to be. As an exhibitor, we're looking forward to showcasing our innovations and being part of the community driving progress in the industry. Join us to gain valuable insights alongside government officials and the public sector workforce – Monday 01 July 2024, Australian Parliament House. Register your attendance: https://lnkd.in/gbBiiBU2  #TechCouncilAus #TechCommunity #AusInnovation #ParliamentaryTechShowcase

😎 What an Incredible Day at Take2! 😎 We recently had the rare opportunity to welcome the Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections NZ to our community training space in Auckland. It was a day to remember, filled with inspiring conversations and meaningful connections. 🤝 Thank You to Our Funding Partners A massive thank you to our philanthropic funding partners, represented on the day by Simplicity and J R McKenzie Trust. Thank you for believing in the vision when it was just an idea, and now thank you to Corrections for the long term support. It’s partnerships like these that fuel our progress and help us make a real difference. 🚀 Celebrating Collaboration Hats off to our employment partners, represented on the day by Karl Wright from Datacom and Steve James from Woolworths New Zealand! These leaders shared how they’ve helped pave the way for our apprentices, creating opportunities that transform lives. Their dedication and commitment is critical to the success of Take2 and our apprentices. 🌟 Stories That Inspire The real stars of the day were our graduates, who shared their journeys and achievements. Hearing how they've transformed their challenges into opportunities was deeply moving. They’re not just learning skills; they’re building new futures. 🎤 Thought-Provoking Discussions We wrapped up with a Q&A that sparked great conversations and brought us even closer to our shared goals. ✨ Here’s to More Milestones Today was a celebration of community, courage, and change. We're so grateful for everyone who is part of this journey. It's been a lot of work, but we are also conscious it is just the beginning.The foundations have been set. It's time to scale our impact up. We're here for it 💪 #Take2 #SocialImpact #TechForGood #Empowerment #PartnershipsInAction

"My childhood was quite rough. There was quite a bit of poverty, and my parents weren’t really around. I grew up with a narrative that I wasn’t good enough. I always thought I had to do way more to be accepted and keep up with others, so I obsessed over things, like sports. And then I started getting into drugs. I went into rehab. I had relapses, and went on a series of bad spirals. I was sent to prison when I was in my early 20s. It was horrible, dark, lonely and really cold. I was super depressed. I stopped eating. When I got out, I went to Thailand and hit rock bottom. That’s when I came back to NZ, and I knew what I needed to do. I went to see a probation officer, and then he recommended Take2. It's been amazing. The most important thing for me in life is connection. You are who you hang out with, you know? But everyday I have been here with Cam and the teachers and all this positivity. There’s just such open minds and acceptance here – it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I've been through every programme. But in Take2, I’ve had more growth in the last eight months than I have in my entire life. And it's because of people like Cam. He's super consistent. He's just such a good influence, and he knows where people will fit into things. And then you've got a group of guys who are all here because they want to be.  I’ve had so many “aha” moments in this course that come from sticking with the work and getting those little wins. The best part is they let me tie the projects to topics that I’m passionate about. The most incredible moment for me was when Cameron called me in for a meeting and told me there was a paid position for me at Take2 Elevate, Take2’s social enterprise. It just felt like all my hard work had paid off. It’s so nice to have a routine and some stability. I’m so excited to be in that environment and do something I’m passionate about."