America Works lifts people
Called "a company with a conscience", America Works was founded in 1984 by social activist and entrepreneur, Peter Cove, who wanted to put his ideals about poverty and the American dream into practice.
Joined by Dr. Lee Bowes as the CEO, America Works has helped nearly 2,000,000 individuals increase their self-sufficiency through gainful employment, including military veterans, welfare and SNAP recipients, young adults, the criminal justice involved, homeless, non-custodial parents, persons receiving disability, among others. America Works uses a blended model that includes work readiness training, vocational training, career placement, career advancement, and employment retention services.
America Works is a 100% Women-Owned Business. Our mission is to equip each individual who comes to our offices with the right tools so that they are able to provide for themselves and their loved ones. We believe the most effective approach in helping people out of poverty is by assisting them in finding meaningful employment. Our proven methods, services and experienced staff offer the right combination for success.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
OUR FOUNDERS
Peter Cove, a social activist and businessmen, is one of the nation’s leading advocates for private solutions to workforce development and alleviating poverty.
As the founder of America Works in 1984, Peter Cove has worked to link private-sector investment and employment with welfare reform. Peter Cove has also devoted his energy to prisoner reentry initiatives, advocating tirelessly for second chance legislation on a national level, to inform policy makers that the work first model of services is the answer for successful reintegration of ex-offenders into communities.
Peter Cove has a book published, Poor No More: Rethinking Dependency and the War on Poverty, as well as numerous articles in the New York Post, Real Clear Policy, the Huffington Post, and elsewhere.
Dr. Lee Bowes is one of the leading experts on Welfare to Work and Prison to Work Workforce Development policies. In the 1990’s, Dr. Lee Bowes and her husband, Peter Cove, were instrumental in educating both political parties about the merits of implementing a national “Work First” policy. She is a frequent guest and speaker at associations that deal with welfare to work policies. She has been a speaker at The Public Welfare Association, the Democratic Leadership Council, The Renaissance Weekend, and the Association of Community Development Corporations.
Dr. Lee Bowes has held the position of CEO since 1987. Dr. Bowes was an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She lectures on Human Resource Management, Social Policy, and Innovative Management Techniques. Dr. Lee Bowes has a book published, No One Need Apply: Getting and Keeping the Best Workers, as well as numerous articles in the New York Post, the Huffington Post, and elsewhere.
