Dear friend,

Nearly one in four jobs in the United States requires an occupational license of some kind. However, having a criminal record is a barrier that prevents qualified talent from obtaining many of these licenses across the U.S. At RBIJ, we are committed to making it easier for justice-impacted individuals to access meaningful work opportunities. That includes removing obstacles to obtaining occupational licenses when those restrictions do not advance public safety or the ability to do the job successfully.

That’s why we’re thrilled to celebrate the success of two occupational licensing reform efforts across the country this month! Tennessee’s Occupational Licensing Bill (HB 1859) was signed into law by Governor Lee on April 23, 2024 and Colorado’s Occupational Licensing Bill (HB 24-1004) was passed in both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly and is anticipated to be signed into law by Governor Polis soon. These policy wins are significant steps forward in creating a more inclusive workforce. We applaud the leaders in these states for lowering the barriers for justice-impacted talent and listening to employers like James Repenning from R&R Head Labs, who attest to the value of greater inclusivity within their workforce. 

And U.S. businesses are not alone in understanding the value of removing barriers to employment. I just returned from London where RBIJ is partnering with the U.K. business community to advance policy reforms like the #FairChecks campaign and supporting businesses in their journey to become second chance employers. I’m proud that RBIJ’s Deputy CEO Lena Patel participated in the launch of the Fair Chance Business Alliance last week — a groundbreaking alliance that reflects the U.K. business community’s commitment to increasing inclusivity in the workforce. We are excited to expand our engagement with the U.K. business community to reform justice systems, restore communities, and reframe narratives. 

So if you are a U.S. or U.K. business interested in getting more involved in our work to remove barriers to employment for the justice-impacted community, we invite you to get in touch with us. We know that only by working together can we remove the barriers that prevent so many of our community members from joining the workforce and moving forward in their lives.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership! 

RBIJ Joins Council for Inclusive Capitalism as an Ally

RBIJ is excited to announce that Maha Jweied has joined the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. The Council for Inclusive Capitalism is a global nonprofit organization that joins moral and market imperatives to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and trusted economic system that addresses the needs of people and the planet. Through this new affiliation, RBIJ will share how our business partners are advancing greater inclusivity for justice-impacted individuals and their family members in the workplace to inspire more private sector actors to join our collective efforts no matter where they operate.

POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Occupational Licensing Reform Bills Pass in Colorado and Tennessee!

This month, we’re celebrating some big wins: occupational licensing reform bills passed in both Colorado and Tennessee! We want to extend a special thank you to Checkr, Honeycomb Strategies, KOBEYO, Labor Depot, R&R Head Labs, Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute, Simple Switch, Small Business Majority, Solaris Energy, Sopris Solar, Terrapin Care Station, and Vail Valley Partnership for their advocacy in support of these bills.

Advocate for Driver's License Reform in Ohio and North Carolina 

Over 85% of Americans drive to work, and suspended driver's licenses due to unpaid fines and fees greatly limit employment opportunities. Hot Chicken Takeover CEO Phil Petrilli penned an op-ed for The Columbus Dispatch on how driver’s license reform can keep hardworking individuals in the workforce. If you are a business leader who would like to advocate for driver's license reform in Ohio or North Carolina, please fill out this form. 

From left to right: Jonathan Gonzalez, Indeed; Maggie O'Donnell, RBIJ; Karina Saltman, Webster Bank

Unlocking Opportunity: Clean Slate Connecticut’s Impact & What It Means for Business

RBIJ Director of Policy & Advocacy Maggie O’Donnell spoke on a 3BL Network panel alongside representatives from Indeed and Webster Bank about the impact automatic record clearing will have for businesses in Connecticut. While Clean Slate Connecticut was passed in 2021, only 7.4% of eligible individuals have successfully had their record cleared to date. RBIJ is seeking local businesses to contact the Governor and ask him to prioritize this important issue. Contact maggie@rbij.org to learn more. 

Opportunity to Comment on HUD Regulations to Reduce Barriers to Housing

RBIJ submitted a public comment to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in support of their proposed rule FR-6362-P-01 Reducing Barriers to HUD-Assisted Housing, which would reduce barriers for individuals with criminal records and help end the prison-to-homelessness cycle. We encourage our partners to submit a comment by the June 10 deadline through the link above and offer this template for your convenience.

Is Your Business Looking to Get More Involved in Advocating for Criminal Justice Reform?

RBIJ works with employers of all sizes to help drive change on key issues across the U.S. Alongside local campaigners, we help businesses use their platforms and leverage to advocate for a range of issues, from ending extreme sentencing to advancing justice for the workforce. Business leaders have supported these efforts by bylining op-eds, engaging in public and private advocacy, testifying before committees, adding their names to sign-on letters, and more. Our Policy & Advocacy team works directly with your company to create a bespoke plan for how you can engage on the issues that matter most — and create the greatest impact. Fill out this form to learn more. 

INCLUSIVE HIRING UPDATES

Fair Chance Business Alliance Launches in UK: A Milestone for Inclusive Hiring 

This month, RBIJ Deputy CEO Lena Patel attended the official launch of the Fair Chance Business Alliance (FCBA) in London — an event which marked a significant advance for inclusive hiring practices in the U.K. Founded and funded by U.K. employers to promote Fair Chance Hiring, the FCBA recently introduced the country’s first Employment Charter for hiring people with criminal records. This Charter includes a groundbreaking set of quality standards that guide employers on how to create inclusive workplaces for individuals who are justice-impacted. Stay tuned for updates on our collaboration with the FCBA.

From left to right: Charity Walker, Persevere; Camieka Woodhouse-Willis, RBIJ; Dr. Jude Higdon, QSIDE Institute; Kia Jarmon, MEPR Agency; Karen Walker, Persevere; Dr. Marvin Carr, Walmart.org.

RBIJ at the Aspen Institute's Opportunity Youth Forum Spring Convening 

At this annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute, RBIJ Inclusive Hiring Manager Camieka Woodhouse-Willis spoke about Unlock Potential, RBIJ’s hiring program aimed at diverting opportunity youth from the poverty-to-prison pipeline. Using case studies from the 2023 Unlock Potential pilot, Woodhouse-Willis emphasized the importance of collaboration and shared learning between businesses and communities to support the diverse, untapped talent pool that opportunity youth represent.  

Dozens of Opportunity Youth Hired Through Unlock Potential 

After recent employment mixers, interview support, and community outreach, RBIJ is excited to announce that 34 young talents have been hired through the Unlock Potential program so far. These individuals, aged 16-24 and facing economic barriers or risk factors for justice involvement, have secured quality positions with our partnering employers, including Sam’s Club, Burlington, Ben & Jerry’s, and Hilton. We look forward to watching these young people continue to succeed and advance in their new roles and can't wait for more youth to join them in these opportunities. Learn how your organization can get involved here.

This Is the Start: David's Second Chance at Success

One in three Americans has a criminal record. Our colleague, David Williams, is one of them. Follow David's journey back into the workforce after incarceration, his relentless search for employment, and how he found a second chance at RBIJ.