Happy 10th Birthday, Roads! Celebrating a Decade of Hard Work, Growth, and Opportunity

Today, Chrysalis is celebrating a big milestone: the 10th birthday of Roads! What began in November 2016 with the launch of the first crew has grown into an important part of Chrysalis’ employment social enterprise, creating opportunities for people facing barriers to employment to gain valuable work experience, build skills, and take steps toward lasting careers.

Through Roads, Chrysalis provides transitional employment in freeway litter abatement throughout Southern California. Crew members earn a paycheck, develop professional skills, and gain hands-on experience while preparing for their next employment opportunity.

Ten years of hard work. Ten years of growth. Thousands of opportunities.

Over the past decade, Roads has helped more than 3,700 Chrysalis clients gain transitional work experience. For many, that experience has served as a stepping stone to new opportunities and lasting careers.

59 clients went on to secure employment with Caltrans.
119 clients were hired as permanent Chrysalis staff members, serving as Roads crew supervisors.
More than 1,170 clients left their Roads crew because they landed permanent employment in the general workforce before their yearlong program time concluded.

Behind these numbers are people whose hard work, dedication, and professional growth have shaped Roads over the past 10 years.

Take Robert, who began his journey with Chrysalis as a Roads participant after returning home from 18 years of incarceration. Within just three months of joining the program, he advanced into a leadership role. Today, he serves as a supervisor, encouraging others to recognize their own potential. As Robert puts it, “I started in the back of the van, watching my supervisor and thinking, ‘I can do this!'”

Or consider Guadalupe, who joined a Roads crew and advanced from crew member to lead and then supervisor before securing a position with Caltrans, where she continues to build her career.

Their experiences reflect what Roads is all about: creating opportunities for people to demonstrate their abilities, develop new skills, and build futures they can be proud of.

As we celebrate 10 years of Roads, we’re grateful to the crew members, supervisors, staff, partners, and supporters who have been part of this journey. Each has helped shape the program and make new opportunities possible.

Here’s to a decade of hard work, the people who make it happen, and all the possibilities still ahead.