Elisa Ortiz, Author at Second Chance Hiring Alliance

New report offers proposed solutions to improve reentry workforce innovation in D.C.

Today, the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA), an initiative of the Council for Court Excellence (CCE), released its latest publication titled “From Incarceration to Inclusion: How D.C. Can Lead on Reentry Workforce Innovation.” Struggling to access employment is just one of the 40,000+ collateral consequences facing people previously convicted of crimes in the United States. The practice of second chance hiring – hiring people despite or even because of their criminal [...]

New report offers proposed solutions to improve reentry workforce innovation in D.C.Elisa Ortiz2025-12-23T11:08:16-05:00

Bridging Opportunity Gaps in Workforce Development for Justice-Impacted Job Seekers

On Thursday, September 4, SCHA partnered with Core Group member the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice to host Bridging Opportunity Gaps in Workforce Development for Justice Impacted Job Seekers. This convening brought thought leaders from the D.C. workforce development sector, D.C.-area employers, and justice impacted job seekers together to have facilitated discussions, brainstorm solutions, and share ideas on how we can collectively support workforce development programs. Attendees included representatives from [...]

Bridging Opportunity Gaps in Workforce Development for Justice-Impacted Job SeekersElisa Ortiz2025-09-18T15:12:22-04:00

“Talent Beyond Barriers” was a success!

Second Chance Month (April) just wrapped up and the SCHA team closed out the month with a fantastic event on April 29: “Talent Beyond Barriers: A Business Exchange on Second Chance Hiring.” This exciting event, which we co-hosted with SCHA Core Group Members the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, included panels, expert speakers, and technical assistance/coaching for D.C.-based business owners and employers [...]

“Talent Beyond Barriers” was a success!Elisa Ortiz2025-07-09T09:49:03-04:00

Webinar release of SCHA’s latest publication – The Workforce Solution!

On Wednesday, March 26, the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA) and our partners at the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) cohosted a webinar releasing SCHA’s latest publication “The Workforce Solution: D.C. Employer’s FAQ for Second Chance Hiring.” This valuable resource provides answers to questions business owners and employers have about the legal requirements, financial incentives, and protections available to them as they expand their applicant pools through second [...]

Webinar release of SCHA’s latest publication – The Workforce Solution!Elisa Ortiz2025-05-13T20:20:01-04:00

SCHA attends Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce Open House

On February 25, the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC), a valued partner of the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA), hosted an Open House Business Summit at the Thurgood Marshall Center! This session was sponsored by Citizens Bank. The event featured a luncheon, resource expo, various panel discussions, breakout sessions, technical assistance, and networking opportunities. SCHA’s Gene Downing and Aayushma Bastola attended the event along with our intern, Jada [...]

SCHA attends Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce Open HouseElisa Ortiz2025-03-21T12:01:28-04:00

SCHA Fall Recap and Upcoming Events in the New Year

January 8, 2025 Hello friends, We at the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA) hope you had an amazing holiday season! We want to ring in the new year with you all, while also reflecting on how we brought 2024 to a close. On November 19th, we hosted an informative webinar with the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) called Creating an Inclusive Workplace: Empowering Employers for Second Chance [...]

SCHA Fall Recap and Upcoming Events in the New YearElisa Ortiz2025-03-12T18:28:32-04:00

SCHA’s own Gene Downing wins award for his contribution to the returning citizens community!

At DC’s 8th annual Returning Citizens Cookout in July 2024, SCHA’s own Gene Downing was given an award by NAARC-Cure the Streets and Mayor's Office for Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA) for his tireless work for the Returning Citizen community. In his acceptance speech, Gene shared about his leadership in Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA), the role of the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) in his life, and his gratitude and love [...]

SCHA’s own Gene Downing wins award for his contribution to the returning citizens community!Elisa Ortiz2024-10-16T14:59:52-04:00

SCHA Member Spotlight: Paul Winestock

Paul Winestock Jr. was born July 5, 1965, to Delores Mayfield and Paul Winestock Sr. (Step) in a quiet N.E. neighborhood in the Woodridge area of D.C. He attended Taft Jr. High School and Spingarn High as a basketball star before transferring and graduating from McKinley High School in 1984. While in school, Paul worked in the maintenance department of Howard University Hospital. Growing up in the 1980s, when the drug [...]

SCHA Member Spotlight: Paul WinestockElisa Ortiz2024-10-11T16:43:53-04:00

Second Chance Hiring Alliance Spring 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to Issue #2 of the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA) Newsletter! This newsletter shares updates on the work of the SCHA, opportunities for connecting and collaborating, second chance hiring resources, and highlighting SCHA members and partners. "Second chance hiring gives the opportunity to prove to yourself, as well as others, that you are just as capable and qualified as anyone else.” -S.B., justice impacted person What is Second Chance Hiring? [...]

Second Chance Hiring Alliance Spring 2024 NewsletterElisa Ortiz2024-10-11T16:44:17-04:00

Second Chance Hiring Alliance November 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to the first Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA) newsletter! This newsletter will be used to share second chance hiring resources, updates on the work of the SCHA, opportunities for connecting and collaborating, and highlight SCHA members and partners! SCHA Hosts its First Webinar On October 18 and 19, the SCHA hosted its first webinar! During this two-part webinar series, over twenty attendees heard from Alyssa Lovegrove, the Academic Director of [...]

Second Chance Hiring Alliance November 2023 NewsletterElisa Ortiz2024-10-11T16:44:30-04:00

About Elisa Ortiz