Dear friend,

At RBIJ, we’re excited that in just a few weeks, we will be bringing our annual Workforce & Justice Summit to the U.K. for the very first time. We’ve planned a full day of keynotes, panels, and a reception in the House of Lords — all focused on how corporate action on justice reform can build a workforce that’s healthier, more resilient, and ready for the future. If you’d like to join us for the 2024 Workforce & Justice Summit in London on November 20, it’s not too late — visit our revamped summit website and email Victoria Harris at victoria@rbij.org to register your interest!    
 
After our summit, I’ll be heading to Geneva for another powerful cross-sector gathering: the 13th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights. This year’s theme, “A Smart Mix of Measures,” affirms that no single strategy or sector can achieve lasting change on its own. It takes all of us through a mix of measures to drive systemic transformation, create opportunity, and ultimately safeguard justice.   

Thank you for your continued support,

Collateral Consequences: Locked Out of the 2024 U.S. Elections

By Maggie O’Donnell, RBIJ Director of Policy & Advocacy | Tomorrow, millions of Americans with criminal records will be barred from participating in a historic election. Discover the sheer scale and injustice of voter disenfranchisement in the U.S. and the advocates — including business leaders — who are fighting for these Americans to regain their right to vote. Read the blog post. 

Justice Champion Spotlight: Lynne Oldham (Stash) and Samson Adeyemi (Dropbox)

With its skills-based focus and constant demand for talent, the tech industry is uniquely positioned to lead in Fair Chance Hiring. This month, we feature insights from Lynne Oldham, Chief People Officer at Stash, and Samson Adeyemi, a software engineer at Dropbox, as they share their experiences with Next Chapter — a program that connects tech companies with skilled, justice-impacted talent. Read the Q&A. 

Calling Business Leaders: Urge Congress to Pass Historic Workforce Bills 

We need your help in building bipartisan support to pass federal workforce and justice bills that would help remove barriers and foster successful reentry for individuals with records. Add your voice to our letter. 

JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING WORKFORCE & JUSTICE SUMMITS

2024 Workforce & Justice Summit: Nov 20 | London

Building on the success of RBIJ’s Workforce & Justice Summits in the U.S., we are delighted to bring this event to the U.K. The 2024 W&J Summit will be held in two parts: a morning keynote and panel session co-hosted by the Confederation of British Industry, BusinessLDN, and Virgin Group, and an evening Parliamentary Reception hosted by Lord Dr. Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE at the House of Lords. Learn more and register your interest by contacting Victoria Harris at victoria@rbij.org.

Save the Date! 2025 Workforce & Justice Summit:

May 13-14 | Seattle 

Hosted by Microsoft at the Seattle Convention Center, our 2025 W&J Summit will bring together business leaders, policy experts, and justice advocates to explore how corporate action on justice reform can make the workforce healthier, more resilient, and ready for the future. Register your interest today.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHRM Inclusion 2024: Nov 4-7 

Our Director of Inclusive Hiring, Caz Walcott, will take the stage at SHRM Inclusion with our partners from JPMorganChase, the QSIDE Institute, and the SHRM Foundation on a panel presenting effective strategies for businesses to create a more inclusive workforce. 

University of Georgia's Workforce Conference: Nov 13

Flagger Force, a member of RBIJ's Workforce & Justice Alliance, will share practical strategies for Second Chance Hiring and corporate action on justice reform on a panel led by our friends at the Georgia Justice Project. View event details. 

Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Annual Conference: Nov 25

RBIJ will connect with government leaders and business executives at CBI’s Annual Conference in London which focuses on sustainable growth for the U.K. private sector. Stop by the RBIJ exhibition stand to learn more about our work! 

13th United Nations Forum on Business & Human Rights: Nov 25-27 

RBIJ will join thousands of participants from around the globe to explore key trends and challenges in advancing the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and how a multi-stakeholder approach is crucial to driving these principles.

RBIJ ON THE GLOBAL STAGE: OCTOBER EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

CEO Maha Jweied led a generative discussion on Fair Chance Hiring at the National Fair Chance Hiring Conference at the University of Chicago covering best practices with employers, nonprofits, policymakers, and researchers. Our Deputy CEO, Lena Patel, spoke at the Meaningful Business 100 Convening in London and presented RBIJ’s and Sir Richard Branson’s Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty campaign to an audience of impact-focused leaders. Inclusive Hiring Manager Taja Hereford moderated a panel at the National Reentry Workforce Collaborative (NRWC) Annual Conference on the many barriers to successful reentry that affect justice-impacted individuals. 

The Financial Times hosted CEO Maha Jweied at Moral Money Summit Americas where she took the stage with an esteemed panel to share how businesses can advance justice reform and work towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. At the Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS) Talent Symposium in Dallas, HR professionals heard from Inclusive Hiring Manager Taja Hereford who sat on a panel about advanced strategies for talent acquisition, including Fair Chance Hiring.

RBIJ CELEBRATES STAFF

Kimia Khatib-Shahidi — Manager of Policy & Advocacy 

Congratulations to Kimia, who has been promoted to Manager of Policy & Advocacy! Kimia's leadership has been instrumental in supporting RBIJ's policy efforts nationwide. Her hard work advocating for various state-level reforms — including Clean Slate, occupational licensing reform, and the abolition of JLWOP and the death penalty — will continue to bolster our mission to advance justice and secure meaningful systemic change. Connect with Kimia on LinkedIn.

Camieka Woodhouse-Willis — Sr. Manager for Impact & Belonging  

Congratulations to Camieka, who has been promoted to Senior Manager for Impact & Belonging! Camieka has done amazing work for our inclusive hiring programs, expanding the footprint of Unlock Potential and engaging new companies in Second Chance Hiring efforts. In her new capacity, Camieka will carry this momentum forward while enhancing RBIJ’s reputation as a model of equity and inclusivity in the workplace. Connect with Camieka on LinkedIn. 

#BIZVSDP UPDATE

450+ Executives Join the Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty Campaign 

RBIJ is proud to announce that the #BizVsDP campaign has now grown to more than 450 members. If you're a business leader committed to death penalty abolition, sign the campaign declaration today to officially join the movement.

WORKFORCE & JUSTICE ALLIANCE 

RBIJ Welcomes New Workforce & Justice Alliance Members

RBIJ welcomes the latest businesses who have joined the Workforce & Justice Alliance. Not a WJA member? Join now for access to our network and exclusive resources.