Jobs for Felons: Give former felons a chance to work

J.T. Weis - The Detroit News

Picture by By https://kazan.vperemen.com/

At Abcor Industries we live out the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. This is driven by my faith, which teaches that all people are of equal value, redeemable and entitled to the dignity that God intended when he created us.

After years of working in the corporate world, my desire to live a more meaningful existence continued to grow. With that in mind, entrepreneurship was the path to pursue this goal and I acquired Abcor Industries in Holland, Michigan.



Abcor has the technology for powder coating wood and is leading the drive for innovating higher performing wood materials.

Owning Abcor allows us the freedom to make decisions which improve people’s lives and drive an enterprise that contributes to the betterment of the planet. Additionally, we support important nonprofit entities, institutions and schools.

As a senior manager at publicly traded companies, I wasn’t able to deploy a felon hiring strategy — or consider anyone with a criminal history. With Abcor, we are breaking the stigmas and helping change people’s lives.

More than half of our production employees have been convicted of felonies and have served long sentences, hence repaying their debt to society. My intention is to continue to do everything possible to ensure they are productive members of a dynamic entrepreneurial company.

Productive employment is the leading force in their personal mission to build a new successful life as a responsible tax paying citizen. Productive employment is the leading factor in reducing recidivism. We are an important component of their life recovery. They are a vital part of our success.

Recently, I was invited to a forum on the subject of hiring re-entering citizens. At first, it was very encouraging to see so many human resource executives interested and open to the practice. However, each of the executives had a common theme of being only interested in “light felony” applicants. This was clearly driven by a risk mitigation approach.

Toward the end of the forum, they asked me to opine on their approach. They were surprised by my response that short sentence “light felony” applicants had a higher fallout rate and were more difficult to manage. Those who have served the longer sentences are very motivated, highly loyal and committed to the mission.

Currently, we at Abcor and other employers are urging the Legislature to pass bills currently before the state House Law and Justice Committee that would remove some barriers to employment and require objective reasons for denying parole to low-risk prisoners.

Right now, there are too many who remain incarcerated and present the lowest risk to public safety. The law requires that denying parole to people who present the lowest risk to public safety can only be based on objective reasonings. Subjective parole denial is immoral, and it’s wrong. Not only is it counter to our values, it also wastes millions of taxpayer dollars annually on keeping these low-risk prisoners locked up.

There remains much more the state of Michigan can do to help. It should continue to expand vocational training during incarceration, implement laws and financial benefits for bridging organizations that help the released find employment, housing and transportation. In my view, the Department of Corrections could and should become a powerful force by investing in these systems and have a positive impact on workforce development.

Every year, nearly 10,000 people return from prison to Michigan communities. Many are unable to find employment due to their criminal records, even though many employers face a shortage of available workers. There exists a significant opportunity to do better.

Those in position to do so, should construct systems, laws and enterprises to set the groundwork for personal recovery. There is a major win-win for society available to us all and we need to act upon it.

J.T. Weis is the owner of Abcor Industries in Holland, Michigan.

Jobs for Felons: The Facts about Companies that Hire Ex offenders and Felons

Jobs for Felons: Give former felons a chance to work

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Eric Mayo

Grants for Felons

There are grants available for felons who are looking to start a small business.

Donna Fuscaldo - Business.com

Finding a job after incarceration has long been a challenge. Having a felony on your record carries a huge stigma when you are seeking employment. According to the Brookings Institution, close to half of ex-prisoners have no reported earnings in the initial years following their release. Of those who do find employment, half make around $10,090 a year – well below the poverty level.

One second-chance option is to join the ranks of small business owners across the U.S., although that path also presents challenges with training and funding. However, government agencies and nonprofits have stepped up to lend some support. From grants to microloans, here's a look at the aid available for felons who want to start a business.

What is a government grant?

A government grant is money provided by federal, state or local government agencies that doesn't have to be paid back. The funding, which typically targets specific groups, can cover everything from education to business startup costs.

However, there aren't many government grants specifically for felons. In the past, there were more social programs, but today, a convicted felon must compete with other business owners for grants and other types of financial assistance.

"We have a decades-old prejudice built in us," Bill Collins, a mentor for SCORE, told business.com. "It is difficult to get grants, difficult to get loans and difficult to get financing."

Some states do have training and grant programs specifically targeted at recently released felons. However, the dollar amount tends to be small, and the programs aren't widespread. Nonetheless, there are still funding resources for people with felony convictions.

Grants are also offered by foundations, corporations and other entities.

What are grants for felon business owners?

Grants.gov operates a federal government grant database that is accessible through a browser or mobile app. You can search the database by keyword, funding type, eligibility, category and other criteria.

You're better off casting a wider net by using more general search terms when looking for grants on this website. For example, a search using the keyword "felons" yielded no results, but "startup" did. Look for grants geared toward entrepreneurs, small businesses, industry, gender and heritage, instead of those intended specifically for felons or ex-prisoners. You can apply for grants directly from Grants.gov. [Want to learn the type of small business grants available? Click here.]

Department of Labor grants

The U.S. Department of Labor has grant programs to help people who have criminal records. These grants cover housing, small business expenses and other costs. Anyone is eligible to apply for the grants, so competition can be fierce.

Federal Student Aid grants

Sometimes, starting a business requires training or additional education. To make education more obtainable and affordable, the federal government offers grants and student aid. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or FSEOG, is a federal grant for undergraduate students who exhibit "exceptional" financial need. Awards range from $400 to $4,000. You can't use the money to start a business, but you can get the training needed to successfully operate one.

Keep in mind that it may be difficult to get a grant. Priority is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients first, and felons are ineligible for that program.

"Like any business grants, they are never easy or common," said Danny Fitzgerald, acting regional director for the Small Business Development Center in San Diego. "The trick for many [with a felony conviction] is getting regular loans."

Small Business Administration programs

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers programs, such as free training and loans, designed to help entrepreneurs get their businesses up and running. Depending on your situation, some or all of the programs may be right for you.

Boots to Business

Boots to Business is an entrepreneurial and educational training program provided by the SBA. Through the course, participants get an overview of what entrepreneurship is, learn business ownership fundamentals, and are exposed to the skills and resources needed to write a business plan and launch an enterprise. It is a two-day program that's normally run in person. Following the completion of Boots to Business, participants get access to the SBA's B2B Revenue Readiness online course in partnership with Mississippi State University.

Run in conjunction with the Boots to Business program is the Boots to Business Funding Opportunity, which is awarded exclusively to Boots to Business participants. Through this program, the SBA provides support to the business for five years.

SBA microloans

Microloans are a popular way for people with little or no credit history to access small business loans. The SBA's microloan program provides small businesses with loans of up to $50,000. The SBA partners with nonprofit community-based organizations to issue and administer the loans. The average microloan is around $13,000, with interest rates averaging between 8% and 11%. Proceeds from the SBA's microloans can be used for working capital, inventory or supplies, furniture or fixtures, and machinery or equipment.

The SBA's microloan program is particularly attractive for felons because most approved lenders aren't looking for an excellent credit score or an expansive credit history. "Microlenders are comfortable in credit-building situations," Fitzgerald said.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has become a popular way to test a business idea or raise funding. Through these digital platforms, you present your idea, list how much you are looking to raise and launch your campaign. Individuals can invest in your company in exchange for stock or gear. Most business owners don't get rich through crowdfunding, but it is a way to raise some startup capital.

"The challenge with crowdfunding sometimes is, you can get lost in a sea of funding requests," said Michael Brooks, associate director of the Alabama SBDC Network. "America loves a good recovery, redemption story. If you have a good story to tell, it's possible you'll get interest."

Popular crowdfunding sites for business owners include Indiegogo and Kickstarter.

What are other resources for felon business owners?

Raising capital and using a microloan are common ways felons can start a business, but they aren't the only avenues. Depending on the support system of the individual, the felon may be able to tap friends and family for loans. Alternatively, felons can choose a business that they can get up and running with little capital, such as painting or landscaping.

Ultimately, it pays to take advantage of any training programs available while you are incarcerated, as you can gain skills that can help you find employment and launch a business.

For example, skilled trades such as plumbing, HVAC and carpentry are seeing high demand right now, Collins said, and gaining those kinds of skills is a good way to get jobs and a path toward business ownership.

 

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  Eric Mayo

Hiring As A Second Chance

Originally published at Forbes.com

You make a lot of potentially life-changing decisions when you’re a boss. You promote someone — or you have to let them go. You give someone a raise. You send a new product into the world. 

But none of these has been as life changing as the times my partner and I have been able to give a job candidate a second chance at life simply by hiring them. These are employees who were once in prison or rehab or who came to us from a sober living house. In too many cases, having those experiences on a job record has proved detrimental to career opportunities. In fact, according to the National HIRE Network, “Nearly 75% of formerly incarcerated individuals are still unemployed a year after release.” And when 1 in 3 American adults has a criminal record, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, that’s both a disaster and an opportunity that’s currently being wasted.

Fortunately, many large companies — like Walmart, Starbucks, Home Depot and more — have changed their hiring practices to include people with criminal records. And in the case of our small business, every time we’ve hired someone with a criminal record or who has gone through rehab, we’ve been paid back with exceptional productivity, increased loyalty and overall great morale. For the employees, it’s meant a chance to prove themselves and to excel, setting them up for a successful future.

Here are some key reasons it makes sense to give people a second chance — and how you can do the same in a way that offers the best path to success for everyone.

Employment lowers recidivism rates.

Here’s a shocking fact: According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics study, 83% of state prisoners were rearrested during the first nine years after their release. Is that because they’re hopeless career criminals? Maybe for a few. But studies consistently show that lack of education and lack of employment are linked with recidivism rates. Basically, you can help people stay out of jail by giving them a job. This doesn’t apply to just any employment — if people only have fast-food job options, that does not lower recidivism rates. But if they can get jobs in construction or manufacturing, or in jobs that offer the potential for growth, that correlates with a decrease in returns to prison.

You get hard work, dedication and gratitude.

Our experience mirrors those of other small businesses: The people we’ve hired have demonstrated hard work and dedication. According to the ACLU report “Back to Business: How Hiring Formerly Incarcerated Job Seekers Benefits Your Company,” when employers hire ex-offenders, “Retention rates are higher, turnover is lower, and employees with criminal records are more loyal.”

One of our best employees is an ex-offender with a wife and children, who humbly and happily started his career with us at the bottom of the totem pole: on the assembly line. One year later, he had done such outstanding work that he was promoted to line manager. He’s now been with us two and a half years and is such a role model that we profiled him in a Father’s Day post on our company blog! 

People who have gone to rehab for drug or alcohol issues are already outstanding in one key way: Although 40 million Americans meet the criteria for substance addiction, only 10% receive treatment. 

You can help change the story.

You can provide the example that ex-offenders and people just out of rehab are not only worthy of employment, but they can also benefit the whole community with increased productivity and even safety. 

One very dramatic example: In the past, prisoners who worked alongside professional firefighters during California’s wildfires were barred from becoming firefighters themselves due to their criminal records. But this fall, in the midst of the worst wildfires the state has ever seen, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to expunge the records of certain prisoners (violent and sex offenders excluded), making them eligible for EMT training en route to becoming professional firefighters.

You can get a tax break.

Another big incentive may be money. Note that this only applies to hiring an ex-offender, but the benefits are pretty significant. Thanks to the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit, employers who hire a qualified ex-felon can claim a tax credit of up to 25% of their first year’s wages if the employee works at least 120 hours, and 40% if they work over 400. If you’re a small business owner, your state or municipality may also offer additional incentives.

How to make it work: Set them up to succeed. 

Just throwing someone into a new job and letting them sink or swim is a recipe for disaster. Here are ways you can have the greatest possible chance of success:

• Give clear guidelines and expectations. Everyone needs a well-defined job description and clear targets to hit, and this is particularly true for ex-offenders and those recently out of rehab. 

• Make sure there’s a true pathway for growth so they don’t feel stuck in a dead-end job or that they’re being patronized with menial tasks.

• Pair them with a mentor who can offer guidance and answer questions.

• Encourage them to continue their education, and/or provide workplace training that can equip them for increasing responsibility.

• Schedule regular one-on-one conversations to hear how it’s going and to give feedback.

Giving someone a second chance doesn’t mean doing them a favor. It means seizing a great opportunity that has huge potential benefits for both sides.

Jobs for Felons: The Facts about Companies that Hire Ex offenders and Felons

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Hiring As A Second Chance

Eric Mayo   

Jobs for Felons: Beware of Career Schools

If you are at home in the daytime, I'm sure you have seen countless commercials from career schools promising  new careers and brighter futures for unemployed people.  If you don't have a job or have no idea where your life is going, these schools appear to the be the answer to a lot of prayers.

These career academies or adult education schools offer the hope of well paying careers as Cosmetology, the medical field, fashion designing, automotive repair, culinary etc.  They even offer help with financial aid (usually loans,) and job placement after you graduate.  I even saw one that claimed upon completion of their Medical Billing a Coding course, you would be able to do billing and coding from home.

I often get emails and letters from ex-offenders and felons asking if the investment in time and money would help their situations.  Before I answer this question, let's look at how these career schools work.

Jobs for Felons: Beware of Career Schools

As stated above, these schools train students for a variety of in-demand careers.  In most cases, these schools operate for a profit.  The exception to this are community colleges that offer career training.  Because vocational schools are profit oriented, the want to make their training very attractive to those who are serious about training for careers.  While many of these schools are reputable and do an excellent job preparing students and assisting them in getting placed, there are others who record is not as good.  To drive more students to their programs, they may offer misleading information about the need for qualified people to fill jobs, the earning potential or the ability to place their graduates.

I encourage ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs and careers to carefully explore all of their options for training before such a big investment of time and money.  First I suggest your local community college.  Many community colleges are committed to providing quality education and some include career and vocational education.  Community colleges also have very qualified financial aid, counseling and dedicated placement personnel.  If your local community college does not offer training in a field you are interested in, you may have to turn to a private career school.  Before choosing a school you have to ask some very important questions.

Is the school accredited?  Accreditation is an evaluation by a nationally recognized agency.  If a school is accredited , it means it has met certain quality standards and probably is a good school.  You can simply ask a school representative "Is you school accredited and by what agency?"

What is the total cost of the program and what financial aid is available?  You may require a loan to finance your training.  If you are unemployed, you may be eligible for assistance through your state's department of labor.  You can find a department of labor representative at your local One-stop Career Center.  You can find the center nearest to you here: www.servicelocator.org

 If you need a loan, I suggest government sponsored financial aid.  You can get information about federal financial aid and other financial aid options here: What Is Financial Aid and How Does It Work?
 
What is the school's placement record?  Ask about the school's placement record.  Find out what percentage of graduates in your field and the average have been placed and .  Find out what employers have hired the school's graduates.  This is very important.  You should contact these employers to see if they hire ex-offenders or felons.  You may also find out if a license is required and if your conviction would keep you from being licensed.

Choosing a career a great choice for felons looking to put criminal records behind them.  Choosing the right school can help them do it.

Jobs for Felons: Top 10 Awesome Jobs That Don’t Need an Education Degree

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Jobs for Felons: Beware of Career Schools

 Jobs for felons: Old conviction is a problem

Please Help! My boyfriend is a convicted felon. He was charged with his felony when he was 18 years old and served 28 days. He is off probation, he has never messed up since that day but everywhere he looks he sees a background check is needed. Every time I look for ex-offender jobs all I can find are jobs that are for felons just getting out of jail. He is 28 years old and makes $5 less an hour than his coworker and he has certificates for his job and his coworker does not.

He has had the same job for 9 years now and has not gotten a raise. He committed a crime barely after turning 18 and now it is haunting him forever. I don't know what else to do or where to look.

There has to be something he can do. Please help me.

  Jobs for felons: Old conviction is a problem

Hello,

ex-offenders and felons I deal with.  First of all, I'm not sure what it is he does, but it seems that he has a marketable skill.  Secondly, he has had the same job for nine years.  That means that he has at least nine years of practical experience.

The problem I believe your boyfriend is having is, he is thinking like a felon that has a job rather than a working person that happens to have a record.  He is letting his criminal record define who he is.  He will not find a job looking for "Ex-offender Jobs."  There is no such thing.  No one advertises that they hire ex-offenders and felons.   My suggestion is from now on he should stop thinking as if he has a mark of a criminal on his face.  He does not!  He should apply for every job he feels he is qualified to do.

His record is not going away.  He has to deal with it and deal with it in a positive way.  Never fear a background check.  Every job he applies for, he should be honest about his past.  When he gets an interview and the question comes up, he should speak briefly about it focusing on what he has done with his life since then.  He should talk about the positive things he has done to improve himself.  There are jobs for felons.  Felons get hired everyday.  The key is finding an employer who will look past his record (which should not be hard to do since it happened over ten years ago.)  There are many companies that hire felons.

Like I said, he should apply for every job he feels he is qualified for.  Finding a job is a numbers game.  The more jobs he applies for, the more interviews he will get.  The more interviews he gets, the greater his chances are of getting a job.

I hope this helps

Jobs for felons:  Where can Ex-offenders and Felons Find Jobs?

Ex-offenders and convicted felons can get jobs with Federal Bonding Program

Jobs for felons: Ten Simple Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record

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   Jobs for felons: Old conviction is a problem

Eric Mayo

Companies that Hire Ex-Offenders Can Get a Tax Credit, But Very Few Actually Claim It

By 

Chandra Bozelko - Barrons

April has been recognized as “Second Chance Month” since 2017 as part of a bipartisan effort to push criminal justice reform. This year, President Trump has announced that he wants to cut unemployment among ex-offenders—currently around 27%, according to the Prison Policy Initiative—to single digits within five years. The most efficient way to do that is to modify the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

A job provides needed income and adds structure to a person’s day; it’s no surprise that studies have shown employment can reduce the chance of re-offending by about 20%. Jobs for ex-offenders benefit everyone in a community.

That’s one reason ex-offenders are included in the class of applicants employers are encouraged to consider by an incentive known as Work Opportunity Tax Credits. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a provision of the Internal Revenue Code that authorizes a tax credit for companies that hire from certain populations, like veterans, recipients of certain entitlement programs, and people with felony records. Employers submit eligible new hires to claim a tax credit equal to a percentage of an employee’s wages.

More than job training or education, the WOTC holds promise for people leaving prison whose applications may not be as competitive as others. It also encourages higher wages since the tax credit is a proportion of what employees are paid.

In its current form, the WOTC isn’t as effective as it can be. The law applies only to those who are hired within one year of the date of their conviction or release from prison, whichever is later. In that respect, it may limit eligibility only to first-time users of the program; no job applicant can be certified twice if they need another job after that first year.

But as many as 45% of released prisoners don’t have a job in that first year of release. According to a study completed by the Brookings Institution last year, only 55% of released prisoners have any earnings at all during the first year they’re home. Very often, by the time they land a job, their eligibility for the WOTC is gone.

This might explain why the WOTC appears to suffer from underutilization. For instance, Oklahoma, the nation’s leading incarcerator, certified only 1,465 people in fiscal 2018 in the “ex-felon” category. New York, a state with approximately 47,100 inmates and 36,410 parolees, certified only 1,534 people for the WOTC. In 2014, an average of 41,866 people were on parole in California, yet only 527 eligible felons were certified to give their employers the tax credit.

The Labor Department reports that, for fiscal 2018, only 85,796 people with criminal records were certified as eligible employees—and this among a sea of an estimated 626,000 people who leave custody every year.

While it’s possible that 500,000 of those released people are ineligible because they’re beyond the one-year cutoff for the WOTC, any underutilization may stem from the inherent conflict between two policies that have same overarching goal: to help disadvantaged individuals secure employment.

Employers aren’t allowed to know of an applicant’s criminal record and eligibility under “Ban the Box” statutes—laws that remove felony conviction checkboxes from job applications.

Awareness of the WOTC benefit needs to grow and may very well do so on its own if aspiring hires can disclose their eligibility; but they won’t disclose if they’re prohibited from doing so. Ban the Box advocates have been so busy hiding people’s records to remove a disadvantage in hiring that they forego leveraging an advantage. We don’t know how many people who weren’t hired because of the eventual disclosure of their criminal record would have been offered a job if the company knew of the potential tax benefit.

There is a way to protect people’s understandable desire to both hide their record and also signal to employers that hiring them can bring a tax benefit. It involves not banning the box but revising it; a box asking of an applicant is a member of the groups covered by the WOTC would hide a criminal record while also informing businesses of the tax credit if hired.

It true that the stigma of criminal conviction prevents many people from being hired. It’s unclear whether the WOTC is enough to overcome preconceived ideas about released prisoners. The little evidence we have on this, a survey of companies in Connecticut by a small nonprofit, the Malta Justice Initiative, says employers are likely to respond to expanded tax incentives. 73% of respondents indicated a tax credit would motivate hiring managers; subsidies would entice 76% of them.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is authorized through the end of 2019 through the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act. Its reauthorization process will now involve criminal justice reform insider Senator Chuck Grassley who is the new Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Taxation. Grassley’s dedication to reforming the reentry process and his new positions prime him to optimize the tax code to help meet the president’s employment goal.

Amending the WOTC to expand eligibility beyond one year would likely go a long way in helping released prisoners secure employment as well as provide a boon to businesses.

Chandra Bozelko is the Vice President of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and writes the Webby award-winning blog Prison Diaries.

Introduction to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit

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Companies that Hire Ex-Offenders Can Get a Tax Credit, But Very Few Actually Claim It

Jobs for Felons: Walmart announces big-money racial equity initiatives

Walmart's five initiatives follow $100M commitment to racial equity following death of George Floyd

Originally published by By Paul BestFOXBusiness

Walmart executives are planning several company initiatives to increase racial equity at the retail behemoth.

The company plans to work with minority-owned suppliers, deepen ties to historically black colleges, increase access to health care, work to hire nonviolent felons and develop a more inclusive company, CEO Doug McMillon wrote in a memo posted to the Walmart website.

“Black Lives Matter. It is all our responsibilities to embrace that fact in what we say and what we do," McMillion wrote. "There’s no way to live our values if we don’t."

Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The memo was a follow-up to a company-wide virtual meeting last week at which racial equality at Walmart was discussed. McMillon's memo highlighted how the company has made increasing diversity within its ranks of associates and managers a priority and how it will continue to do so.

"How can you, as an anti-racist ally, create an environment where Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, LGBTQ, those with disabilities and women, don’t feel it’s a big decision to speak up?" McMillon wrote. "Let’s create a supportive, trustful environment where people can share how they’re feeling, so 'small' issues don’t stack."

Walmart faced controversy this week because some stores placed “multicultural hair and beauty products” in locked cases, which many African American customers said was discriminatory. The company announced Thursday that it had discontinued the practice.

he memo was published after the Arkansas-based company announced last week that it is donating $100 million through a new center on racial equity. The company has also joined a growing list of businesses that have announced big-dollar donations to racial equity initiatives in the wake of George Floyd's killing while he was in police custody and the protests against racism and policing that have swept the country since.

Supermarkets like Publix and Kroger have announced millions of dollars in donations while tech titans have taken the lead in the private sector. Apple announced a $100 million commitment Thursday to a new “Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.” YouTube Chief Executive Susan Wojcicki announced on Thursday a $100 million commitment to “amplify” black voices, and Facebook and Amazon have both promised $10 million to organizations supporting racial justice.

Walmart's five initiatives are:

Financial System

Walmart plans to examine its financial and business practices to identify greater opportunities for minority-owned businesses to identify opportunities to influence how access to capital works beyond Walmart.

Health care

Walmart plans to explore ways to provide greater access to better health and wellness through its businesses such as pharmacies, digital capabilities and Walmart Health Clinics. The initiative will be focused on customers and associates.

Education

Walmart plans to strengthen academic support and create broader and deeper ties through its recruiting programs with historically black colleges and universities.

Criminal Justice

Walmart plans to review and evolve its recruiting and hiring practices to ensure nonviolent, formerly incarcerated applicants are appropriately considered as they reenter the workforce and focus on successfully onboarding those associates.

Inclusion

Walmart plans to continue to build a more inclusive company globally.

Black Lives Matter |George Floyd | Companies hire felons | companies that hire felons | Companies that hire ex-offenders | Employers that hire ex-offenders | employers that hire felons | Jobs for felons | jobs for ex-offenders | jobs that hire felons | places that hire felons | felon friendly jobs | felon friendly employers | how to get a job with criminal record | second chance jobs for felons | temp agencies that hire felons | high paying jobs for felons 

Eric Mayo

Trades Schools/Programs Can Stop Police Shootings

I usually post answers on my blog to questions I get from ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.  Today, I found an article that is interesting.  Tell me what you think

- Eric


Originally posted at https://www.hypefresh.co/trades-schools-programs-can-stop-police-shootings/

What If Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, and all other black men killed by police were seen as hardworking men?


Police shootings of unarmed black men and women are the most significant issues this country is facing right now. A post-secondary school option could be the solution to this ongoing problem.

Netflix has an entire collection of movies viewers can watch to educate themselves on the African American experience. One of the movies featured is a Netflix Original entitled 13th. If you haven’t already, please do yourself a favor and watch that documentary, because the prison industrial complex is real.

However, all you need to know right now, is that African Americans are criminalized far too often in this country. In light of that anecdote, the issue of police killings of black men and women can gain more clarity.

Due to the racist background of policing in this country and the effect of migration of labor jobs out of American. African Americans have been stripped away from the thing that made them so valuable.

According to NPR, thousands of high paying trade jobs remain open because of a lack of qualified workers. This may not seem relatable, but if you look at how African Americans were able to build wealth in the past, and there is a direct correlation.

Aside from Slave, most black people held skilled labor titles such as Welder, Plumber, Contractor, Etc. In fact, because of Slavery, only a small portion of the working-class white could perform most trades.

The 13th amendment made black people into criminals; college marketing made black people broke. As black people started migrating north searching for more freedoms, they began to go to college rather than work with their hands. This trend continued and was joined by public schools removing trades.

This has to lead us to where we are today—police shootings of unarmed African American men and women over petite crimes.  If the general perception of African Americans were that they are hardworking, skilled laborers, the “fear” that gets them killed wouldn’t exist.

In Philadelphia, there is a school called Philadelphia Training Technician Institute that teaches welding, masonry, among other trades. Many of the students are from the inner city, convicted felons, or people off the street. Yet one thing is clear; this men are up to something good.

Whether it is 10 am or 10 pm, which is the time some night students leave, with their gear, workboots, and bookbags, the thugs the media see become the worker’s people respect.

Rayshard Brooks and George Floyd both may still be dead even if they had mutual degrees from Harvard. That is because race is color first, Conversely, though, it’s about perception second and that perception can be swayed with just the slightest change. Ex) Football Player takes a knee, he is a problem. Cop Takes a knee on a man’s neck and kills him; he is a hero. See what I did there?

What do you guys think about Police Shootings of unarmed Black People? Could Trade schools help change how police see people of color?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Trades Schools/Programs Can Stop Police Shootings

Eric Mayo

Goodwill industries providing hope and help to convicted felons

Posted: Mon 11:31 PM, Oct 14, 2019  | Updated: Mon 11:40 PM, Oct 14, 2019

Toledo, OHIO (WTVG) - Goodwill Industries works to convicted felons get back into the workforce. The non-profit recently received a $1 million grant from the Department of Justice for a program aimed at providing training and treatment behind bars.

The program is called Stay the Course. 

The idea is to have case workers and other navigators inside county and regional jails and state prisons,

connecting with convicted felons and offering them help before release.

Senator Rob Portman helped secure funding through the Second Chance Act. Since 2009 the legislation has helped fund $39 million in grant money for Ohio re-entry programs.

Amanda Huckleberry was convicted of felony theft three years ago, since then she has been working to find permanent housing, a job and transportation with the help of Goodwill.

She attributes her success of staying away from the streets to her caseworker, Samantha. Huckleberry says when she was released, after serving 7 months in prison, she had no job, no house and no car.

"I went from having everything to nothing," says Huckleberry.

Today, Senator Rob Portman heard some of the success stories linked to the local program and also address areas where there are gaps.

For Huckleberry, while she is receiving job training, housing and transportation continue to be an issue. Portman says he wants to introduce the Jobs Act again to Congress as another way to guarantee employment after incarceration, potentially making securing a home and a vehicle easier for those with nothing.

Portman says he wants federal Pell Grants to not only cover the cost of colleges and universities but skilled trade training jobs and certification programs. He believes this will help those convicted of a crime get back into the workforce quickly and be able to earn a living wage for positions that are in dire need of qualified workers.

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 Felon can't get by Past Criminal Record

Hello Eric,

My name is Steve.  I am 24 years old.  In 2009 I committed a crime consisting of Vandalism, Burglary, and Arson. I had never been in trouble my entire life and grew up in a strict household.  I was with five other guys and I was the oldest.  I was the only one to turn myself in and give a full statement on the matter. It landed me on a four year probation term and after that, it will be expunged from my record. (THAT WAS THE PLEA AGREEMENT). It happened in Tennessee and now I am currently living in Fort Wayne, IN.

There are a lot more jobs up here than down there but the problem I am facing is that when I go to a temp agency that IS SUPPOSED TO HELP FELONS FIND WORK they tell me that my current felonies together seen on paper would make it really hard for a potential client to take interest in my employment. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I have not been in trouble since my sentencing. I am a proud step father now of three and I have already completed two full years on my probation.

Felon can't get by Past Criminal Record

Hello Steve,

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble.  I meet people everyday that have done some really stupid things when they were younger and are still paying the price as they get older.  My advice to them is to apply, apply apply for as many jobs as they feel they are qualified for.  I tell felons looking for jobs that finding a job is a numbers game.  The more jobs you apply for, the more interviews you will get.  The more interviews you get, the greater the chance you will find an employer who will give you a shot a job.  Felons get hired everyday.  It's all about finding job leads and applying.

You can find open jobs in your area: Click Here!

When you get an interview and the question about your record comes up, acknowledge that you made some mistakes when you were younger.  Don't spend a lot of time talking about the mistakes, but focus on the things you have done to improve yourself and your attitude since.  You may say something like this:

I was into some things when I was younger that landed me in jail.  Jail is a tough place to be but I made the best of a bad situation.  I had a job which taught me respect for authority and patience through hard work.  I can honestly say, today I am a different person than I was going in.  If you give me this opportunity I’ll make the most of it.

As far as applying to temporary agencies, you may have more success applying to small privately owned agencies rather than large national companies.  Smaller businesses in general are more flexible when it comes to hiring felons.  Use the state sponsored employment service.  Each state has a network of offices that assists individuals in finding jobs.  They also provide a long list of services that help you get a job or find a career.  Some services are, resume preparation, and interviewing skills.  There lists of open jobs in your area. Each offices has trained counselors that can provide individualized assistance.  Many of the counselors have experience helping ex-offenders and felons get jobs.  You can find the nearest office in any community at:

www.servicelocator.org

WorkOne Northeast Indiana- Allen County
201 East Rudisill Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46806-1756 

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Felon can't get by Past Criminal Record