International Coffee Day Spotlight: Two Coffee Businesses Brewing Second Chances

Today is International Coffee Day and we're celebrating by featuring coffee roasters from the U.S. and the U.K. who are creating a positive impact through Fair Chance Hiring. I Have a Bean and Redemption Roasters go above and beyond to make hiring justice-impacted individuals central to their mission. Read insights from Pete Leonard, Founder of I Have a Bean, and Rosemary Ashworth, Head of Impact for Redemption Roasters. 

Introducing New Advisory Council Member: Stephanie Ferguson Melhorn

We’re proud to welcome Stephanie Ferguson Melhorn, Executive Director for Workforce & International Labor Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to RBIJ’s Advisory Council. We’re grateful for her leadership and expertise on both U.S. and international labor issues as RBIJ works to create fairness and justice for all. Read more about Stephanie's expertise. 

RBIJ Receives $1.5M Grant from Sam's Club to Help Employers Hire Opportunity Youth and Justice-Impacted Veterans

We are thrilled to announce that RBIJ has been awarded a transformative $1.5 million grant from Sam's Club to scale our work helping companies build more effective talent pipelines and advocate for policies that unlock career pathways for overlooked talent — including those who are vulnerable to or impacted by the justice system. Read more here.

POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Businesses Support the #Raceto13 for Clean Slate Illinois  

Seven business leaders have submitted letters of support for Illinois to become the 13th state to pass Clean Slate, joining a coalition of nonprofits and advocacy groups. “We know Clean Slate strengthens the economy and helps employers access a more vibrant and robust workforce,” says RBIJ CEO Maha Jweied in the #Raceto13 video. If you’re an Illinois business who’d like to get involved, please reach out to policy@rbij.org.  

Business Leaders Back Clean Slate Massachusetts and Driver’s License Reform 

Local Massachusetts business leaders testified alongside RBIJ in support of #CleanSlateMA before the House Judiciary Committee. MassCultivatED, Green City Growers, InnerCity Weightlifting, and Zevin Asset Management advocated for automated record sealing — a policy that helps remove barriers to work. 

A growing number of businesses have signed a letter in support of H.3662, the Road to Opportunity Act. This legislation would increase opportunity by ending debt-based driving restrictions in Massachusetts, which often prevent people from keepings stable jobs. If you’re headquartered or have operations in Massachusetts, add your name by emailing policy@rbij.org.

INCLUSIVE HIRING UPDATES

“Bridging Opportunity Gaps” Explores Strategies to Strengthen D.C. Workforce Development Programs  

RBIJ co-hosted “Bridging Opportunity Gaps: A Facilitated Discussion on Job Readiness for Justice Impacted Job Seekers” with the Council for Court Excellence and the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA). This cross-sector event explored ways to improve workforce readiness programs and employment opportunities for returning citizens. If you are a D.C.-area business who would like to learn more about the SCHA, please visit their website. 

Delaware EHI: Businesses, Community-Based Organizations, and Project Partners Convene 

Employers in the Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative (EHI) continue to participate in monthly trainings to strengthen their hiring infrastructure and meet local workforce needs. In September, these employers and community-based organizations came together to advance ongoing efforts to build talent pipelines that connect overlooked Delawareans to quality jobs — centering thoughtful, community-focused collaboration. Thank you to Brian DiSabatino, CEO of EDiS Company and Chairman of the Delaware Business Roundtable, for hosting this event. Learn more about the project.

Commemorating Labor Day and Workforce Development Month

This past Labor Day, we celebrated the hard work, talent, and contributions of America’s workers, including justice-impacted individuals. The conversation around talented employees — and how to attract and retain them — continued throughout September during Workforce Development Month.  

Our Senior Manager for Impact & Belonging, Camieka Woodhouse-Willis, attended the Gwinnett Economic Development Board’s kick-off to Workforce Development Month, “Waffles & Workforce.” They brought together experts to explore ways that local businesses can recruit and retain talent. She also attended the "ReNForce Job Fair: Ready, Willing, & ReHired" that brought together Georgia employers and justice-impacted job seekers. 

Celebrating Latino Contributions this Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 — October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month, and we honor the Hispanic and Latino communities contributions to our culture, history, and economy — while recognizing the disparities they continue to face in the U.S. justice system.

Follow along on RBIJ's socials for insights from Latino business leaders. 

Mark Your Calendars — Upcoming Events 

National Reentry Workforce Collaborative Annual Conference – [Oct. 22-24 | Pittsburgh, PA] 

RBIJ’s CEO, Director of Inclusive Hiring, and Senior Manager of Policy & Advocacy will be speaking at the 2025 NRWC Annual Conference — bringing their expertise on Second Chance Hiring strategies and how to advocate for fairer workforce policies. Join us and register for the event.  

800 Years of Justice: Magna Carta to UN SDG 16 – [Oct. 30 | London, UK] 

RBIJ CEO Maha Jweied joins an illustrious panel including Rt. Hon. Alex Chalke KC, former Lord Chancellor; Dr. Karen Brewer, Secretary General, Commonwealth Magistrates & Judges Association; and Rt. Rev Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, to discuss the link between historical legal traditions and contemporary justice goals. Focused on UN Strategic Development Goal 16 — “justice for all” and what can be achieved next. Register for the event.  

News Roundup

• Transatlantic travel rules are stifling business — here's what needs to change (The Observer, featuring RBIJ Advisory Council Member Ken Oliver) 
• Gov. Kevin Stitt holds Ceremonial Bill Signing for HB 1460, a Groundbreaking Law Ending Fees in Oklahoma (Fines and Fees Justice Center) 
• Helping people find work after prison could be a boon to Georgia’s economy (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, featuring RBIJ CEO Maha Jweied) 
• Creating Inclusive Infrastructure for Untapped Talent — (SHRM Business, featuring WJA Member Frontier Co-op)  

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.  

WJA Members in Action

Our Workforce & Justice Alliance members presented at workforce and policy events this fall! Jackie Huebbe from SugarBot Sweet Shop spoke about the benefits of Second Chance Hiring at the International Baking Industry Exposition. Andre Peart from Untapped Solutions and Kenya Jenkins from Lillian's Southern Box Catering joined the discussion on D.C. workforce development programs at "Bridging Opportunity Gaps." Kenya also spoke at the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference alongside the Clean Slate Initiative to highlight the benefits of automated record sealing. 

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