Dear friend, 

Commemorating Veterans Day is very important to us at RBIJ. This year, thanks to a new grant made possible by Sam's Club, the holiday takes on added meaning, as we begin expanding our work to help create career pathways for veterans with criminal records — a group that comprises an estimated one in three of America's 19 million veterans. If you’re an employer committed to breaking down barriers for this untapped talent pool, we’d love to hear from you. 

To strategize around this expanded focus, our team recently gathered in Washington, D.C. for our annual staff retreat. It’s always a joy for our international team to come together, share insights, and chart our path forward. 

As we observe Veterans Day tomorrow, we’re proud to be serving those who served us. Their dedication and sacrifice do not go unnoticed, and we’re committed to opening doors to meaningful employment opportunities that set veterans up for success. Please join us at our upcoming webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 18 — "From Service to Second Chances: The Role of Business in Veteran Reentry" — to learn more. 

Let's make justice our business, 

Maha Jweied

CEO, Responsible Business Initiative for Justice

RBIJ Commemorates Veterans Day 

From Service to Second Chances: The Role of Business in Veteran Reentry

Outdated hiring practices often overlook veterans with criminal records — depriving employers of skilled and dedicated talent. Join speakers Brigadier General David MacEwen (Director of the Veteran’s Justice Commission, Council on Criminal Justice); Derek O. Small, USN (Ret.) (Director of Military Programs, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation); and Caz Walcott (Director of Inclusive Hiring, RBIJ) to hear actionable insights into how your business can create opportunities for justice-impacted veterans. Register here. 

Veterans with Records Deserve a Path Back to Work

Veterans that have had contact with the criminal justice system face unique challenges to rebuilding their lives — and critically, their careers. Businesses can help make a difference. In this new blog post featuring quotes from Conbody and Televerde — businesses who welcome justice-impacted veterans — learn how you can support workforce reentry for those who've served. 

RBIJ Wins Ragan CSR Award for

“Be A Voice for Change” Campaign 

We’re thrilled to announce that RBIJ’s Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty (#BizVsDP) campaign won a 2025 Ragan CSR award in the Cause Advocacy Campaign category! Co-founded by Sir Richard Branson and RBIJ, #BizVsDP unites hundreds of business leaders in calling for a global abolition of the death penalty. Thank you to our partners at Virgin, Virgin Unite, and Impact & Influence for your work on this campaign.  

Introducing New Advisory Council Members: Christina Louie Dyer and Tara Foy 

We’re proud to welcome Christina Louie Dyer, Executive Director of Checkr.org and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Checkr, and Tara Foy, Senior CSR Manager at BNP Paribas to RBIJ’s Advisory Council. Their expertise and leadership will provide insights into RBIJ’s mission of expanding justice for all. Meet Christina and Tara.

RBIJ Across the Globe: Uplifting the Business Voice in Justice Reform  

Discussing 800 Years of Justice at the Old Bailey  

RBIJ CEO Maha Jweied (left) with the "Justice for All" panel at the Old Bailey in London. 

RBIJ CEO Maha Jweied joined The Rt. Hon. Alex Chalk KC, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State of Justice; Dr. Karen Brewer, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Magistrates' & Judges' Association; and The Rt. Rev Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester on a panel moderated by Caroline Haughey OBE KC, Barrister during the kickoff of the “Justice For All” series, a landmark event that explored the Magna Carta and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Justice for All).  

Collaborating with Workforce Thought Leaders at Walmart HQ

RBIJ's Caz Walcott and Lena Patel attend events at Walmart's headquarters in Bentonville, AK. 

RBIJ’s Deputy CEO, Lena Patel, and Inclusive Hiring Director, Caz Walcott, attended Walmart.org’s RON: Retail Opportunity Network 2025 Annual Convening and the Opportunity Summit hosted by Walmart. They explored ways to invest in people and opportunities, including how to strengthen the workforce and drive long-term business growth.  

Sparking Conversations at the National Reentry Workforce Collaborative (NRWC) Annual Conference  

Scenes from the 2025 NRWC Annual Conference, where RBIJ staff presented alongside business and community leaders for a series of plenaries and workshops. 

As a proud member of the NRWC, RBIJ was thrilled to have our team speak on a number of panels during the 2025 NRWC Annual Conference in Pittsburgh. CEO Maha Jweied spoke on two plenary sessions on Fair Chance Hiring and the statewide Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative. Director of Inclusive Hiring Caz Walcott shared advice on engaging with employers to advance hiring people with records and Senior Manager of Policy & Advocacy Morgan Southers provided national insight on occupational licensing laws and their impact on the workforce.  

Exploring the Intersection of Purpose and Profit with Down North Pizza and Café Momentum 

Left to right: Muhammad Abdul-Hadi signs copies of his new book, "We the Pizza"; event panelists Abdul-Hadi and Dr. Krystal Redman; staff from Down North Pizza and local Georgia business leader.

Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, founder and owner of Down North Pizza, a mission-driven restaurant that exclusively hires formerly incarcerated individuals, shared insights from his new cookbook-memoir, “We the Pizza: Slangin’ Pies and Savin’ Lives,” at Café Momentum in Atlanta. In conversation with Dr. Krystal Redman, a public health strategist and social justice expert, they explored the ways purpose-driven businesses can thrive and transform lives at the same time. 

Connecting with UK Business Leaders at Brixton Prison 

RBIJ’s UK team met with leading businesses and policy experts for a lunch at The Clink Restaurant at Brixton Prison. The restaurant is operated by The Clink Charity and offers incarcerated individuals full-time work as they earn National Vocational Qualifications in Food & Beverage Service, Professional Cookery, and Food Hygiene.

POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Clean Slate Illinois Passes with Strong Business Support 

Last week, Illinois is the 13th state to pass Clean Slate — legislation that automates the sealing of qualifying criminal records. Thank you to the ten business who supported this legislation, including the Small Business Majority, which will help make second chances a reality for more than 1.74 million Illinoisans. We're also grateful for the leadership of Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth, Sen. Elgie Sims, The Clean Slate Initiative, Clean Slate Illinois, Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, and Live Free Illinois throughout this campaign. 

Philadelphia Expands Fair Chance Hiring Law 

Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a bill that amends and expands the city’s Fair Chance Hiring Law, providing second chances to over 300,000 Philadelphians with a past record. Changes include more worker protections, requiring employers to give written explanation for rejecting an applicant for a conviction. Read more in the Philly Voice.  

Georgia Businesses: Join Us in Advocating for Occupational Licensing Reform 

We’re mobilizing business support for SB 207, legislation that would expand access to occupational licensing in Georgia and, in turn, strengthen the economy and expand the state’s talent pool. While a quarter of Georgia’s high-demand jobs require an occupational license, the 4.5 million Georgians who have a criminal record can be arbitrarily denied these licenses, regardless of the record’s relevance to a job’s requirements. This year, SB 207 only needs one final vote on the House floor to finally become law. If you’re a business that’s based in or has operations in Georgia, reach out to policy@rbij.org and get involved.  

B Corps: Advocate with RBIJ and Enact Positive Change 

Certified B Corporations who partner with RBIJ on policy advocacy can fulfill B Lab’s “Collective Action” requirement that asks companies to go beyond their own operations and advocate for broader systems change. Reach out to our Policy team at policy@rbij.org to explore how you can get involved.  

Welcome to Nicole Banister, RBIJ Senior Counsel, Policy & Advocacy! 

Join us in welcoming Nicole Banister to RBIJ’s Policy & Advocacy Team as Senior Counsel! Nicole's past experience includes time at the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Policy and the House Judiciary Committee. At RBIJ, she’s leading criminal justice campaigns at the state and federal levels and providing analysis on legal and policy reforms. Read Nicole’s full bio. 

Mark Your Calendars — Upcoming Events 

Investing in Justice: How Socially Responsible Investment Can Impact Justice Outcomes — Nov. 25 | Geneva, Switzerland    

RBIJ is holding a side-event on the margins of the UN Forum on Business & Human Rights in Geneva on “Investing in Justice: How Socially Responsible Investment Can Impact Justice Outcomes.” Hosted by Alvarez & Marsal, join us in exploring the role of business and investment in impacting justice outcomes. Email victoria@rbij.org to register. 

RBIJ Welcomes New Businesses 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.