Dear friend,

As we commemorate Juneteenth this month, we are reminded of the enduring struggle for racial justice and equality in our society. Also known as the second Independence Day for the United States, the holiday commemorates when enslaved people of African descent in Galveston, Texas finally learned of their freedom from slavery on June 19, 1865 — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln. While rightly a celebration, for us at RBIJ, it also underscores our collective responsibility to address the ongoing injustices that affect Black, Brown, and other marginalized communities across the globe.

In honor of Juneteenth, our staff in both the U.S. and the U.K. took time off to celebrate and renew our personal commitment to racial equity. As an organization, we also proudly renewed our Racial Justice & Equity Action Plan, reflecting our goal of becoming an anti-racist organization that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and across the broader systems in which we work.

We invite you to read our Racial Justice & Equity Action Plan to understand the full scope of our commitment and the steps we are taking to advance these goals.

June is also Pride Month, and as we celebrate we also recognize the intersectionality of our work. The fight for justice and equity is intrinsically linked to the broader struggle for all marginalized or excluded communities, including the LGBTQ+ community. Our commitment is to advance equal justice for all and that commitment extends to all aspects of identity, including gender and sexual orientation. 

LGBTQ+ people are overrepresented at every stage of the criminal justice system. They are disproportionately targeted and criminalized, facing higher rates of arrest, incarceration, and inhumane treatment. Individuals often endure harassment, violence, and a lack of access to necessary services both within and outside of correctional facilities. 

We honor Pride Month by recognizing these challenges and working towards meaningful reform. Together, we can ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership,

RBIJ IN ACTION: RECENT EVENTS AND APPEARANCES

Lisa Schumacher, McDonald's; Laura Demarse, Charles Koch Foundation; Maha Jweied, RBIJ; Patti Constantakis, Walmart. 

Social Innovation Summit

We were thrilled to participate in the Social Innovation Summit in Chicago this month, joining a panel on workforce development with industry leaders from Walmart, McDonald's, and the Charles Koch Foundation. Our CEO, Maha Jweied, spoke about RBIJ's award-winning "first chance hiring" program, Unlock Potential, which empowers businesses to create transformative career opportunities for young adults facing economic and justice system challenges. 

Maha Jweied, Kimia Khatib-Shahidi, Abby Diebold, Maggie O'Donnell.

The Clean Slate Initiative's Annual Convening

Our CEO, Maha Jweied, took the main stage at The Clean Slate Initiative’s 2024 Convening, joining Tameshia Bridges Mansfield from Jobs for the Future and David Safavian from the Conservative Political Action Conference. The panel focused on the cross-sector approach to advancing automatic record sealing. By advocating for automatic record sealing, we can improve opportunities for individuals and respond to business needs, helping to create a more inclusive workforce.

Vanessa Humes, Checkr.org;  Maha Jweied, RBIJ; Ken Oliver, Checkr.

RBIJ Receives Donation from Checkr to Support Fair Chance Hiring Mission 

We are thrilled to announce that RBIJ received a generous donation from Checkr, Inc. as part of their 2023 Pledge 1% Social Impact of the Year Award! Checkr, a founding member of RBIJ's Workforce & Justice Alliance, earned this award for their dedication to fairer hiring practices for justice-impacted individuals. A huge thank you to Checkr and RBIJ Advisory Council member Ken Oliver for their incredible support. 

POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Our Employers Need Talent. Occupational Licensing Reform is a Solution.

Eric Miller, owner of Labor Depot LLC, highlights the urgent need for occupational licensing reform in Colorado. The state's new law, signed by the Governor this month, ensures that individuals with old criminal records are only denied licenses if their records directly impact their ability to perform job duties safely, aligning Colorado with best practices that will support fair chance hiring practices, expand the talent pool, and boost the economy.

Opinion: Illinois Led on Bail Reform — and It's Working.

Pete Leonard, Workforce & Justice Alliance member and Founder of I Have a Bean, commends Illinois for becoming the first state to ban cash bail under the Pretrial Fairness Act and encourages other businesses to advocate for common sense policy reform in their communities.

The Intersection of Criminal Justice Reform and a Healthy Small Business Ecosystem

RBIJ’s Director of Policy & Advocacy, Maggie O’Donnell, spoke at a webinar hosted by Workforce & Justice Alliance founding member Small Business Majority on the benefits of criminal justice reform for small business owners and the broader business community.

End the Death Penalty in Ohio 

RBIJ is working with businesses to support bipartisan legislation, backed by a record number of lawmakers, which would end capital punishment in Ohio. To sign on to RBIJ’s business letter in support, email morgan@rbij.org. Learn more about the Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty campaign here.

INCLUSIVE HIRING UPDATES

Inclusive Hiring with Confidence: Leveraging Reentry Resources for a Diverse and Skilled Workforce

On June 20, RBIJ hosted an insightful panel of reentry experts and second-chance employers, including Lanaya McDonald and Vernise Robinson from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and Amanda Hall from Workforce & Justice Alliance member JBM Packaging. Watch the recording now to catch their insights on how Second Chance Hiring can transform your workforce.

Hiring Update: Unlock Potential Connects 41 Youth to Career Opportunities

RBIJ is proud to announce that 41 young people have been hired to date through Unlock Potential, our “first chance hiring" program aimed at preventing justice involvement among opportunity youth (ages 16-24) who are not currently engaged in education or employment. We’re grateful to our partnering employers across five states who are creating meaningful career opportunities for these emerging adults that positively impact their life trajectories. Learn how your organization can get involved here. 

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!

We’re thrilled to unveil RBIJ's new website, reflecting our expanding network and initiatives. With a fresh look and updated pages, you can explore our active campaigns, recent blog posts, and videos. Key features include a revamped Second Chance Hiring page and employer portal to help businesses start their inclusive hiring journey, a state map with an easy engagement form, and a reorganized navigation bar showcasing our latest highlights.

Justice-Impacted Artists: Submit Your Work for RBIJ's 2024 Holiday Card! 

For the past four years, RBIJ has uplifted the artwork of justice-impacted artists through our annual holiday card. We are seeking artwork for our 2024 card, accepting applications from interested artists up through August 1st, 2024. If you have an artist within your network who is interested in learning more, please share this link with all of the application details.