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 Hiring. This webinar included perspectives and knowledge from our panel: William Bumpus (D.C. Department of Employment Services), Paul Winestock, Jr. (Business Owner and Returning Citizen), and Charlie Whitaker (Career Path DC), moderated by Simone Ellison (GWBCC). If you couldn’t make it, you can read about it and watch the recording here. Even better news: this webinar was a part of an ongoing series with GWBCC, so save the date for our next webinar on March 26 from 12:30 to 2 PM! Keep your eyes peeled for more details in the next few weeks.
Earlier in the season, SCHA attended GWBCC’s Open House Business Summit with the Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority at the Anacostia Arts Center. We shared our mission to create employment opportunities for those who are justice impacted with the entrepreneurs, community organizations, and business leaders in attendance. Read more on our website! You can look forward to another networking event we will host with GWBCC for Second Chance Month in April.
All the while, we have been adding new resources for employers and job seekers to our website, developing guides and reports for employers about navigating second chance hiring policies in D.C., and recruiting new SCHA members and partners. If you or your organization/business are interested in joining or learning more about the SCHA, please just email us or fill out the form on our website.
Happy New Year! Stay warm and stay tuned for more in 2025.
Best,
Gene Downing