ST. LOUIS – “I’ve stumbled a little bit but when I get out, I will join AA, find a sponsor, and continue to stay sober, because I know that’s what I need to do – both for me and for my next employer,” said a young man named Dominic, who is currently incarcerated but set to release later this fall.
We want people to leave the jail and never come back, and research shows that the faster releasees find gainful employment, the less likely they are to recidivate.”
“I’ve always been a hard worker, and nothing can change that.”
Dominic recently filmed a three-minute video for the St. Louis University-housed Transformative Workforce Academy, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to connect justice-involved individuals with steady employment and train employers on best practices to increase job retention. On October 19, over 50 employers gathered on Zoom for a virtual Second Chance Job Fair hosted by TWA and presented by Centene Charitable Foundation.
TWA piloted the concept of a virtual job fair last year. To overcome barriers related to digital access, jobseekers worked with community agencies and nearly 100 volunteer job coaches to pre-record brief video presentations sharing their skills, work experience, and challenges they have overcome. These videos were screened for prospective employers, with additional information on supporting justice-involved employees presented between videos. Afterwards, employers are connected to the candidates they would like to interview.
“This fair is a great opportunity for those who made mistakes but have turned the page and are ready to provide for their families,” said Lisa Cohn, TWA’s Program Manager, and chief fair organizer.
“That said, we aren’t asking employers to hire out of pity. Justice-involved jobseekers have talent, loyalty, and a work ethic that will benefit businesses and our region as a whole.”
This year, TWA has expanded to do something unprecedented in the St. Louis region, and as far as Cohn knows, anywhere else: it is enabling incarcerated jobseekers like Dominic to begin the interview process before release, to minimize the amount of time between release and a job start date, which research shows will reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
Scott Anders, interim director of the St. Louis County justice center, lauded the pilot program inside the jail. “I’m thrilled to bring this employment program into our facility,” he said. “It is just one component of our broader vision, to make this the most rehabilitative correctional facility in the nation.”
Since job fair organizers have previously found that behavioral health challenges can be a barrier to job retention, they are hosting an online panel to address the issue at the outset of this year’s fair.
Hiring justice-involved jobseekers doesn’t just make good business sense, it also enhances public safety. We want people to leave the jail and never come back, and research shows that the faster releasees find gainful employment, the less likely they are to recidivate.”
SLU’s administrative leadership lauded the innovative program housed inside SLU’s Workforce Center. “Service to the community, especially to those in need of another chance, is a critical component of our Jesuit mission and reflects the values SLU holds dear,” said Father David Suwalsky, SJ, Saint Louis University Vice President for Mission and Identity.
Justice-involved jobseekers – or companies interested in becoming second chance employers – can learn more by visiting www.slu.edu/secondchance or contacting TWA’s Lisa Cohn at 314-977-5498 or lisa.cohn@slu.edu.
Jeff Smith is Missouri Workforce Housing Association executive director and chairs the County Justice Services Advisory Board.
