Marta Barreto, Pathways 4 Equity: Careers After Incarceration
.webp)
Pathways 4 Equity is our career and entrepreneurship fellowship for people rebuilding their lives after incarceration. It connects justice-impacted women and men with skills training, mentorship, and employers who hire for ability instead of record. Marta Barreto came through this fellowship and joined a rocket propulsion team. Here is how the program works, who it is for, and how you can be part of it.
What is Pathways 4 Equity?
Pathways 4 Equity (P4E) is a 12-month fellowship that opens professional and entrepreneurial paths for justice-impacted people. We launched it in 2021 with support from Virgin Unite, and it works on two sides at once: it develops each fellow's skills and confidence, and it helps partner companies build fair-chance hiring into how they operate. The program is now open to women and men, with a growing focus on entrepreneurship alongside professional placement.
The goal is simple. A conviction should not decide the rest of someone's life. When a person leaves incarceration with talent and drive, our job is to make sure the door in front of them opens.
Marta Barreto's story
Marta Barreto shows what opens up when someone is measured by skill, not record. She served as an airplane mechanic in the Navy, came home to turbulent and traumatic years that led to incarceration, and after her release she put everything into her education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Education and an Associate's Degree in Manufacturing Automation Technology, and she started a Master of Business Administration.
In early 2022, through the Pathways 4 Equity fellowship and with support from Virgin Unite, Marta joined the Rocket Propulsion Team at Virgin Orbit. Her story was featured by Virgin Unite, and it is the clearest picture we have of what this work makes possible.
"The LOHM and Virgin Orbit saw me for more than my darkest moments. They've made me feel like I belong in society. I want more doors to be opened for people like me."
Marta Barreto, Pathways 4 Equity Fellow and Propulsion Technician
How the fellowship opens career paths
The fellowship opens career paths by pairing skills training with employer relationships that lead somewhere. Fellows build professional and technical skills, including industry-recognized credentials through our Google Career Certificate scholarships, and they work with mentors who have walked similar roads. On the other side, we partner with companies that commit to fair-chance hiring, so the training turns into real jobs.
What fellows gain:
- Professional and technical skills training, including Google Career Certificates
- Mentorship and leadership development
- A paid fellowship experience, not unpaid work
- Entrepreneurship support for those building their own ventures
- Direct introductions to employers who hire for skill, not record
In 2024, 14 women advanced their careers through the fellowship. Each one is a person whose skills were always there, waiting for a door to open.
How to get started with Pathways 4 Equity
To get started, tell us you are interested and our team will guide you from there. The path is straightforward:
- Read about the current fellowship on our Career Ready Fellowship page.
- Share your interest and your goals with our team.
- Connect with us to find the right cohort and path, whether professional placement or building your own business.
What we are honest about
A fellowship is not a magic fix, and we will never pretend otherwise. The barriers facing justice-impacted people are real, and not every door opens on the first try. What we can promise is real skill-building and employer relationships we have built and tested. Our team keeps showing up for fellows long after the first introduction. Marta's path took years of her own work. What changed was that someone finally opened the door.
Open more doors with us
Every career that opens through Pathways 4 Equity starts with someone deciding to invest in it. You can be that person today.
- Support the work: Join us in opening more doors for justice-impacted women today.
- Join the fellowship: explore the Career Ready Fellowship if you are rebuilding your career or starting a business.
- Partner with us: if your company wants to hire for skill and build fair-chance practices, become a Pathways 4 Equity partner.
Questions? Call us at (646) 820-0011 or email info@thelohm.org.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for Pathways 4 Equity?
Pathways 4 Equity is for justice-impacted people rebuilding their lives and careers after incarceration. The fellowship began by serving women and is now open to women and men.
Is it a paid fellowship?
Yes. Pathways 4 Equity is a paid fellowship, so fellows are supported while they build skills and move toward employment or entrepreneurship. There is no cost to participate.
How is Pathways 4 Equity different from the Google Career Certificates?
The Google Career Certificate scholarships are the professional skills training piece, offered through our Google partnership. Pathways 4 Equity is the broader fellowship that adds mentorship, paid experience, entrepreneurship support, and direct employer connections around that training.
Does Pathways 4 Equity accept men?
Yes. The program is now open to women and men, with a growing focus on entrepreneurship alongside professional placement.
How can employers get involved?
Employers join as Pathways 4 Equity partners, taking part in fair-chance hiring, talent development, corporate sponsorship, and workforce preparation. Partnering gives your team access to skilled, motivated candidates and support building inclusive hiring into how you operate.
Want more stories like this? Read one fellow's journey as a justice-impacted woman in tech or how we are celebrating Black women entrepreneurs.