OAKLAND — For many people leaving jail or prison, the daunting task of getting one’s life together is often hindered by not being able to find a job.

But thanks to Oakland’s Center for Employment Opportunities, also known as CEO, hundreds of ex-prisoners returning to The Town are led to full-time, decent-paying jobs and are able to work day labor in the meantime.

In 2016, 364 people taking part in the program were able to get full-time jobs, according to CEO. The nonprofit aims to increase the capacity of its program in 2018 to serve 600 people. A $200,000 grant from Bank of America awarded to CEO this month will help it do that, said director Lonnie Tuck.

Oakland native Niyokee Jones was able to get a job as a pest exterminator after going through the program, something she never would have expected after being jailed, she said in an interview.

“I started about two years ago. When I first came, there were a lot of people, and I wasn’t a big people person at the time,” Jones said. “But I started to meet people, got more comfortable, and once I got comfortable and stayed focused, it was a really quick transition for me. I came in and tried to just work my way to get out.”

People are typically referred to CEO from their parole officers, Tuck said. Once they are enrolled, their first week is spent learning “life skills” in a classroom-like setting, he said. The skills include how to present oneself on a job and interview techniques, as well as resume building.

“It’s also very reflective,” Tuck said. “Participants talk about what led them to this situation and what they are doing to climb out of it.”

After the life skills week, those taking part are placed in “transitional employment crews” of day laborers while they are seeking full-time, stable employment, he said. CEO has contracts to pick up trash on freeways for Caltrans as well as clean up illegal dumping sites for the Oakland Housing Authority.

“If you ever see people walking on the side of the road picking up trash on 580, 680 or 280, that’s us,” Tuck said.

The participants typically work three to four days a week, and work with CEO’s job coaches on their off days.

“I have this saying that my mother gave me, ‘It’s easier to get a job when you’ve got a job,’ ” Tuck said. “So what makes our program so successful is that while they’re in transitional employment, building their resume, building skills, building their work experience, they’re leaving with a paycheck.”

The participants make minimum wage and are paid every day that they work, Tuck said.

Once a person’s job coach deems them ready for employment, CEO’s “job developers” help them find work, Tuck said. The organization has partnerships with local businesses and other nonprofits to assist it. One of CEO’s major partnerships is with the Oakland Rotary Club, which steers potential employees toward jobs at hundreds of local businesses, said Oakland Rotary’s Gary Flaxman.

Once those taking part in the program land jobs, CEO’s “retention specialists” get to work, Tuck said. The specialists follow the new employees for a year, helping them to keep their jobs. CEO gives the workers a $25 bonus every month they keep their jobs, and offers them a laptop after six months on the job, as well as other incentives, Tuck said.

“It’s very simple: You come to class, you go to work, you get a job,” Tuck said.

Jones said she also received help after leaving the program.

“I was having trouble get my pest control license with my felony,” Jones said. “They wrote letters to the state board and got it appealed. Even if you’re not an active member, you still get help from them.”

Dawson Gentry, one of CEO’s site supervisors, said the program changed his life for the better; he was imprisoned for about 35 years.

Overseeing the participants gives him a newfound sense of purpose, he said.

“For me, the No. 1 thing is, If I can keep one of these young people, my kids, from going back in, I feel like I’ve done a good thing,” Gentry said.

Working for CEO also makes Gentry feel like he’s giving back to his community.

“I dirtied Oakland, in a sense,” Gentry said. “Now every day I get to help physically clean it up.”