Dear friend,

It’s been over a month since our 2025 Workforce & Justice Summit, and the energy from this year’s event is still going strong. 

In the weeks since we convened 150+ business leaders, policy experts, and justice advocates in Seattle, we’ve heard again and again how powerful the experience was for building new connections, surfacing new insights, and offering actionable strategies for businesses to tackle one of today’s most pressing workforce challenges: breaking down employment barriers for people with criminal records.  

Whether you joined us in person or followed along with #WJSummit25 online, we hope you’ll take three minutes to relive some of our favorite Summit moments by watching our new highlight video. 

A huge thank you to this year's Summit host, Microsoft, and to all our sponsors who made this gathering possible. We’re already looking ahead to next year’s event in London — register your interest here. 

Let's make justice our business, 

Maha Jweied

CEO

4 Ways Businesses Can Commemorate Juneteenth — This Month and Beyond

This year's Juneteenth celebrations may be over, but the work of racial justice certainly isn't. Businesses have an ongoing responsibility to reflect on their current practices and build workplaces and communities rooted in fairness, dignity, and belonging. Inclusion isn't a box to check. It's a long-term commitment. Discover how your business can commemorate Juneteenth with purpose and promote justice year-round.  

POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Business Leaders Support Clean Slate in Massachusetts and Illinois

At a recent hearing on Massachusetts’ Clean Slate bill (S 1114), businesses of all sizes testified in support, including JPMorganChase, Zevin Asset Management, InnerCity Weightlifting, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, Tree House Craft Cannabis, AYR Wellness, and Green City Growers. RBIJ’s Policy & Advocacy Director, Maggie O’Donnell, also spoke in favor of the bill, and later joined Jay Ash (Massachusetts Competitive Partnership) and business owner Jon Feinman (InnerCity Weightlifting) at a legislative briefing for the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus to present the business case for Clean Slate Massachusetts alongside state representatives and local advocates.

Jay Ash, President & CEO of Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, presents the business case for Clean Slate legislation at a legislative briefing for the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus. 

Illinois’ Clean Slate bill (SB 1784) passed the House and advanced through the Senate Executive Committee in May, with support from the Illinois Retail Merchant Association and the Illinois Manufacturing Association. While the bill didn’t have the opportunity for a vote in the Senate, advocates anticipate its passage during the fall’s veto session. If you’re an Illinois business leader who’d like to advocate for automated record sealing, reach out to policy@rbij.org.  

A Workforce Win: Oklahoma Passes Critical Fines & Fees Reform

In May, Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law a bill that eliminates unnecessary fines and fees in Oklahoma’s justice system. Across the country, these costs often block justice-impacted individuals from steady employment — and limit employers’ ability to hire. This new legislation strengthens Oklahoma’s workforce and helps ensure that justice-impacted individuals can continue to work, support their families, and meaningfully contribute to their communities. 

Melissa Walton, Executive Director of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council, shares more in a recent op-ed how heavy fines and fees can create lifelong barriers to economic stability. Read more in The Journal Record.

STRIVE Birmingham Executive Director Quiwintre Frye with the first graduating cohort of Fresh Start, a program that helps adults who have been impacted by the justice system prepare for good jobs in growing industries. 

Alabama Passes Occupational Licensing Reform and Opens Doors to Opportunities

Thanks to the hard work of our coalition partners and business advocates, Governor Kay Ivey signed occupational licensing reform legislation into Alabama law this past month. The new policy ensures fair access to licensing opportunities for Alabamans with criminal records, while expanding the talent pool for employers. Learn more about the importance of occupational license reform from a piece by Executive Director of STRIVE Birmingham, Quiwintre Frye.  

INCLUSIVE HIRING UPDATES

Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative (EHI) Engages New Community Partners 

As employer trainings are in full effect, our partners at the Cara Collective are recruiting community-based partners to join the EHI. Local CBOs will help identify and empower overlooked candidates with job readiness training and wraparound support. Learn more about the EHI. 

Stuart Comstock-Gay, Delaware Community Foundation; Jac Rivers, JPMorganChase; and Christopher S. Gunter, Capital One.

Businesses Share Innovative Ways to Solve Hiring Challenges on Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) Podcast

Jac Rivers of JPMorganChase and Christopher S. Gunter of Capital One — co-founders of the Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative (EHI) — joined the Delaware Community Foundation’s podcast, “How to (Not) Kill Your Community,” to discuss innovative workforce development strategies and EHI's efforts to empower local employers and communities. Alongside DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay, they explored why businesses cannot afford to ignore local talent. Listen to the episode.

EHI Leaders Discuss the Power of Collaboration at "Impact: How Corporate Philanthropy Builds Business and Community"

Spotlight Delaware’s Allison Taylor Levine hosted a conversation on how corporations and nonprofits can work together to solve challenges facing the state — featuring Jac Rivers of JPMorganChase, Yvonne Deadwyler of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, and Desa Burton of Zip Code Wilmington.

RBIJ Onstage: Leading the Conversation on Inclusivity and Justice

JFF 2025 Horizons Summit 

RBIJ Director of Inclusive Hiring Caz Walcott joined the panel, "Humanizing Data: Measuring the Power & Impact of Fair Chance Hiring Policies to Advance Equity," to discuss how Fair Chance Hiring policies fuel workforce development, business innovation, and sustainable growth. Panelists showcased a research framework, developed by The QSIDE Institute, to identify effective practices for hiring people with criminal records. RBIJ Strategic Engagement Associate Heather Guglietti attended the Summit as one of JFF’s 2025 Horizon Ambassadors. 

Zofia Stanley, The QSIDE Institute; Christina Dyous, Jobs for the Future; Meagan Forbes, Institute for Justice; and Caz Walcott, RBIJ presenting at the 2025 JFF Horizons Summit.

JustUs Ideas Week 

RBIJ CEO Maha Jweied spoke on the panel, "Fruits of Labor — Pathways from Prison to Prosperity," at this first-of-its-kind event that brings together key changemakers and justice-impacted individuals.

RBIJ CEO Maha Jweied speaking at JustUs Ideas week on a panel with Erin Purdie, SEIU; Candis Tall, 32BJ SEIU; Kevin Scott, Community Spring; Sam Staten Jr., Laborers' Local 332; and Henry Dillard, The Last Mile. 

RBIJ Welcomes 5 New Companies to the Workforce & Justice Alliance

RBIJ’s Workforce & Justice Alliance (WJA) is a groundbreaking community of businesses working to dismantle workforce barriers for justice-impacted individuals and drive justice reform across the country. Not a WJA member? Join now for access to our network and exclusive resources.  

RBIJ is an independent nonprofit organization. Support from donations helps fund our work to improve the criminal justice system.