Everybody needs a second chance, even Pelepe McDowell.
Three years ago, a drug trafficking conviction landed him behind bars in Boonville Correctional Center.
But the 30-year-old found hope – and more importantly, job opportunities – at this year’s 7th Annual Partnership for Success Career Fair for ex-offenders, which sought to place people with prior misdemeanor and felony convictions into productive jobs.
“I’m thankful that I have another opportunity in life,” McDowell said of the job fair. “It gives me a sense of hope, direction, and it’s a blessing.”
The fair, sponsored by the U.S. Probation Office of Eastern Missouri and other agencies, drew more than 500 ex-offenders and 50 agencies to help them make a smooth transition back into society.
Ex-offenders had to register for the job fair and complete a workshop on interviewing for prospective employers. Then, dressed in their best business attire, with a resume in hand and the desire to work, they were off to create a brief, positive first impression on their prospective employers.
“Every day I sit in court and see young, beautiful – mostly inner-city – men in court,” U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber said during his keynote speech. “You are a part of breaking the cycle of helplessness and hopelessness that we see everyday in the courtroom.”
Most in attendance were black males, who make up over 40 percent of the U.S. prison population. The U.S. Bureau of Justice reports that if the trend continues, 1 in 3 black males will be imprisoned sometime during their lifetime.
“I’m on probation, and a lot of people don’t want to hire me,” said Reginald Davis who was locked up for passing bad checks. “If more employers gave opportunities for offenders, you wouldn’t have so many of us going back to the streets.”
Employment is the best deterrent to prison, Doug Burris, chief U.S. probation officer for the Eastern District of Missouri, said. His office reported that an unemployed ex-offender is four times more likely to return to prison than an ex-offender who is employed.
Last year, 15 to 20 percent of participants gained employment through the career fair and many more benefited from networking and interviewing experiences.
For Daniel White, a state conviction when he was a teenager has made almost all of his potential employers leery.
“As long as I was being truthful on the application, I never got any calls,” said White, who did not specify the offense for which he was convicted. “When I said no, they started calling.”
Across the room at a table on job training, Karen Williams and Vikki Vann are looking for secretarial positions and jobs in food service and housekeeping.
The two met at a treatment center three months ago and have been supporting each other in their job search and recovery ever since.
“When I got the flyer and it said you had to be an ex-offender, I felt like finally someone is taking notice of ex-offenders,” Williams said.
The Department of Labor offers relief for employers who choose to hire ex-offenders by giving them a tax credit of up to $2,400 for each ex-offender they hire. Recently, DOL awarded a $1.9 million grant to ARCHS CARES, a program on track to serve nearly 600 ex-offenders reentering the St. Louis region.
Glen Harris, site director for ACCESS Center, has been recruiting ex-offenders at the fair for jobs in construction for the past three years.
He said his company hires ex-offenders because it’s all about helping black males find avenues other than the streets and crime. Chester Deanes with the Fathers’ Support Center said teaching men to become fathers is equally important in the reentry process.
“If you figure this ain’t for you, give me a call anyway and I’ll help you find something,” Harris told one man.
McDowell was released from prison on July 23. He’s already applied for seven jobs (excluding those he applied for at the job fair), but hasn’t gotten a call back from any of them. But still, he’s hopeful that his persistence will pay off. He plans to use his first paycheck to pay tithes and surprise his wife and kids with dinner and a night of fun at Chuck E. Cheese.
Support networks
Mike Anders Prison Ministry, a Christian re-entry and after care prison ministry, will be celebrating the first year of C.O.N.S. Moving Company. The fundraiser banquet will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29 at New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Ave. For details and ticket prices call (314) 652-5700 or (314) 605-7173.
The Father’s Support Center will be holding orientation for fall classes, which begin at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Prince Hall Family Support Center, 4411 N. Newstead. Space is limited. To enroll call (314) 333-4170.
