Join the Second Chance Hiring Alliance, the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice on Tuesday, April 29 from 2 to 6:30pm at the True Reformer Building for “Talent Beyond Barriers: A Business Exchange on Second Chance Hiring.” This exciting event celebrating Second Chance Month will include panels, expert speakers, and technical assistance/coaching for D.C.-based business owners and employers looking to hire justice-impacted workers. There will also be time for networking and a reception with other attendees including business leaders, employment professionals, policymakers, justice-impacted residents, and workforce development programs.

If you are a business owner or employer looking to implement or expand second chance hiring in your business, but need some advice and support, please sign up for one of our individual coaching sessions. Workforce development, financial, and human resources experts will be ready to provide you one-on-one support!

Our confirmed speakers and business coaches include:

• Brian Schwalb, D.C. Attorney General

• Gabi Smith, Career Shop DC

• Jonay Foster Holkins, Trendline Strategies LLC

• Joe Houston, WeFitDC

• Kenya Jenkins, Lillian’s Southern Box Catering

• Antwayne Ford, Enlightened

• Patricia Gill, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

• Lamont Carey, Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs

• Joel Castón, D.C. Sentencing Commission
  

Seats and coaching slots are limited, so please reserve your spot today!

Are you a D.C. employer who is struggling to fill open positions? Do you own a business you are trying to scale up but you need to hire talent? You need The Workforce Solution!

Join the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA) and the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) on March 26 at 12:30 PM as we release SCHA’s latest publication “The Workforce Solution: D.C. Employer’s FAQ for Second Chance Hiring.” This valuable resource will answer your questions about the legal requirements, financial incentives, and protections available to you as an employer looking to expand your applicant pool through second chance hiring. Second chance hiring is the practice of hiring people with criminal records, including those who have experienced incarceration, otherwise known as “justice-impacted.”

Justice-impacted people in DC are a crucial untapped workforce solution for your business. Join us on March 26 to learn about The Workforce Solution, hear from experts and get your questions answered.

The Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA) and the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) hosted a webinar on November 19, 2024 where participants learned directly from business owners about the benefits of hiring individuals impacted by the criminal legal system and how SCHA could help you begin or expand your second chance hiring efforts.

Read more and view the recording.

SCHA staff joined this event hosted by GWBCC and talked to business owners from around the city about the benefits of second chance hiring. Learn more.

On April 25, the Second Chance Hiring Alliance, the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce, Free Minds Book Club, NYU Washington DC and the Council for Court Excellence’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Committee, hosted a special screening of the documentary District of Second Chances at NYU Washington DC’s Abramson Family Auditorium. This film highlights the experiences of three men from D.C. who were sentenced in their youth to life in prison who have since been released. Following the screening, we were joined by the subjects of the documentary, Anthony “Pete” Petty, Gene Downing, and Colie Levar Long, for a panel discussion moderated by the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce.

This webinar featured Human Resources experts from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) discussing how DC residents can explore a career with the federal government, including job seekers who may have a criminal record. The webinar recording can be viewed on YouTube and here is a list of questions and answers shared by DOL (that we did not have time for on the webinar itself).

The SCHA hosted its second webinar on December 5, 2023 from 2-3 pm. Attendees heard from Michael Akin, Mikeya Kirksey, the Director of Workforce Development at DC Central Kitchen, and James Carpenter, advocate and returning citizen. View the recording here.

The SCHA held a two-part webinar series on Wednesday, October 18 from 10:30-11:30 am and Thursday, October 19 from 10:00-11:00 am. The first part focused on the basics of second chance hiring and how the SCHA can support you in creating more inclusive workplaces and connecting to an untapped talent pool. The second part of the webinar focused on answering any questions attendees may have about second chance hiring, hearing directly from employers who hire justice-impacted job seekers, and more. For more information, please contact us.

The SCHA held a two-part webinar series on Wednesday, October 18 from 10:30-11:30 am and Thursday, October 19 from 10:00-11:00 am. The first part focused on the basics of second chance hiring and how the SCHA can support you in creating more inclusive workplaces and connecting to an untapped talent pool. The second part of the webinar focused on answering any questions attendees may have about second chance hiring, hearing directly from employers who hire justice-impacted job seekers, and more. For more information, please contact us.

This forum, featuring speakers from the Center for Employment Opportunities, Justice Through Code, Columbia Business School, Georgetown Pivot Program, Second Chance Studios, and MOD Pizza, served as the official launch event of the Second Chance Hiring Alliance.