Dear friend,

“[W]here justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” Frederick Douglass on the 24th Anniversary of Emancipation in 1886.

As Black History Month comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on how relevant these words remain today as when they were first spoken by Frederick Douglass nearly 140 years ago. In RBIJ’s work to advance criminal legal system reform and workforce equity, it is impossible to ignore the legacies of slavery and Jim Crow that have created the racial disparities that remain in our society today. RBIJ’s work with companies and policy reformers to deliver on the promise of justice for all is intended to counter those realities: from opening doors to employment for our nation’s youth, to supporting policies like automatic record sealing, to building pathways to employment for people returning from prison. I invite you to check out RBIJ’s social media platforms from this month to learn more about how persistent these racial disparities really are for Black communities in particular and how RBIJ’s work is designed to advance equity and justice for all, including communities of color. 

RBIJ's Senior Leadership Team at the Frederick Douglass National Historical Site in Washington, DC - February 28, 2024

We are also pleased to report that RBIJ has been growing and evolving! We are thrilled to welcome our newest colleagues to the team – Stephan Matthews, Khaya Laidley, Katlyn Toelle, and David Williams – and excited about an RBIJ design refresh, including the changes to this newsletter. This new format still allows us to update you on our latest happenings each month and the ways in which you can join our efforts to reform justice systems, restore communities, and reframe narratives. It now also includes a brief message from me – like this one – to provide you with insight into how RBIJ is connecting with companies at the intersection of responsible business and justice. 

For this month, I wanted to spotlight the Workforce & Justice Alliance (WJA) – a growing coalition of business members and nonprofit partners working together to help deliver criminal legal system reform across the country. WJA members leverage their platforms to advance systemic change in the legal system, share best practices with their peers, and remove workforce barriers for justice-impacted individuals. The WJA convened last week for the first time this year and members shared updates that blew us away. We learned how members create supportive workplace cultures for returning talent, use prison and reentry simulations to educate the public and colleagues on the harmful impact of collateral consequences of justice system involvement, and are eager to collaborate with one another to lift up their shared priorities and efforts. I was inspired and energized to see the thoughtful work of Alliance members to drive reform forward and how meaningful it is for businesses to have a space for peer-to-peer engagement on these topics. RBIJ is privileged to be a conduit for these collaborative efforts and I invite you to join this growing network of business leaders and nonprofit partners. 

Read on to learn about our work from our Inclusive Hiring and Policy & Advocacy teams and find op-eds from business leaders across the country. 

RBIJ IN THE NEWS

Ending JLWOP Would Bring Real Justice to Wisconsin's Children

In advance of a critical hearing in the Wisconsin legislature, RBIJ worked with business leader Sarah Best (CEO of Sarah Best Strategy) on an op-ed calling on the state to end juvenile life without parole sentencing in Wisconsin.

Independence Chamber of Commerce: Missouri's Employers Need a Clean Slate 

More than a dozen Chambers of Commerce and businesses have signed on in support of Clean Slate in Missouri. RBIJ worked with Tom Lesnak, President of the Independence Chamber of Commerce, on a Letter to the Editor supporting the state's automatic record sealing bill. 

RBIJ IN THE WORLD

Second Chance Hiring Spotlight: Larry Miller, Jordan Brand Advisory Board

Jordan Brand Advisory Board Chairman Larry Miller speaks with RBIJ at #AWJ2023 about sharing his story of incarceration, the value of justice-impacted talent, and why employers should become Second Chance Hirers. 

Spotlight: Down North Pizza 

RBIJ sat down for an interview with Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, Founder & Owner of Down North Pizza in Philadelphia. Down North hires formerly incarcerated individuals and provides them with resources to navigate reentry, with the goal of reducing recidivism and creating an environment that centers its employees. 

HMP Thameside, London

Victoria Harris and Lena Patel attended HMP Thameside as part of Key4Life's mentoring programme, together with representatives from other businesses and charities. They met 25 young men, most on remand, and spent the day talking and assisting them with their CV’s and interview techniques.

INCLUSIVE HIRING UPDATES

Connecting Talent to Opportunity: RBIJ Expands Inclusive Hiring Network in Ohio and Pennsylvania 

RBIJ connected with more than a dozen businesses and community organizations in Columbus, Ohio and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this month to support expansions in career pathways for local youth and justice-impacted talent. Follow along on social media to see where our Inclusive Hiring team travels next.

Memphis Youth Access Career Opportunities with Burlington, Walmart, and Sam’s Club

This month, a remarkable 35 young people attended RBIJ’s Employment Mixer in Memphis, as part of the groundbreaking Unlock Potential program. In collaboration with local organizations HopeWorks, LifeLine to Success, Omni Visions Foster Care, and Persevere - EPIC and major employers like Burlington, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, the mixer allowed participating youth to explore meaningful career opportunities, statistically reducing their risk of future justice involvement. Attendees seized the chance to ask questions of hiring personnel, apply for open positions, and explore available support services. In the weeks ahead, RBIJ is set to replicate this success with similar events for youth in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Explore how your business can participate at unlock-potential.org.

POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Business leaders have a critical role to play in reforming the justice system. Across the country, RBIJ is partnering with companies of all sizes – guided by the strategic insight of local campaigners – to advance policies that will help employers tap into a qualified workforce and address the ongoing labor shortage.

February's Key Victories 

Colorado’s occupational licensing bill (HB 24-1004), backed by over a dozen business leaders, was unanimously voted out of the Business Affairs & Labor Committee. Two business leaders made the trip to Denver to speak out in support of the legislation. Maryland’s Judicial Proceeding Committee held a hearing on new Clean Slate legislation (HB 658/SB 602), featuring testimony in support of the bill from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Greater Baltimore Committee, Flagger Force, and RBIJ.

Clean Slate Expansion in Pennsylvania 

These policies make a difference. Last week, the first Pennsylvanians benefitted from the expansion of Clean Slate. Passed at the end of last year, the new automatic record sealing legislation covers certain classes of felonies, including drug felonies. It was an emotional and long-awaited moment for these thousands of Pennsylvanians who had been needlessly held back for decades-old convictions. RBIJ thanks the many businesses who helped make this happen.

To learn more about supporting these efforts, or any of our other state campaigns, email maggie@rbij.org. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Unlock Potential Youth Mixers (March 7, Dallas, TX; March 8, Philadelphia, PA (virtual); March 12, Atlanta, GA):
  Businesses and community based organizations coming together and talking with Unlock Potential youth about their offerings and job opportunities. If you are a local business and want to participate, email taja@rbij.org for Dallas and camieka@rbij.org for Philadelphia and Atlanta. 
• JFF Fair Chance Corporate Cohort Info Sessions (March-September 2024, virtual): Interested in learning more about the JFF Fair Chance Corporate Cohort? Join an upcoming info session.
• National Employment Youth Coalition Forum (March 4-6, Atlanta, GA): Join RBIJ at this national conference that brings together youth leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders interested in advancing the lives of opportunity youth and young adults.
• Business Roundtable CEO Workforce Forum (March 6, Washington, DC): An event that examines private sector initiatives and public policies that invest in workers, deliver upward mobility, and advance economic opportunity to ensure U.S. global competitiveness and an ever-ready workforce.
• CECP Webinar (March 14, virtual): Join RBIJ, Delta, and Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose for a one-hour webinar on supporting the justice-impacted workforce and how employers can build an inclusive talent pipeline. Register here.