— Valley of the Sun United Way is continuing to expand its leadership in advancing fair chance hiring, building on nearly 2.5 years of progress in Maricopa County since launching the Fair Chance Collaborative in 2024. The organization has secured an additional $1.25 million in philanthropic support from JPMorganChase to further expand this work.
This investment will accelerate efforts to connect people with criminal records to employment, training, education pathways, mentorship, and re-entry services, while strengthening a growing ecosystem of employers, community-based organizations, and public sector partners working to reduce barriers to employment and advance a more inclusive workforce system.
“Fair chance hiring is not just about second chances—it’s about strengthening Arizona’s workforce and economy,” said Carla Vargas Jasa, President and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. “We’re proud to continue working alongside partners like JPMorganChase to better align systems and create more pathways to meaningful employment.”
“JPMorganChase is dedicated to providing a second chance to the one in three Arizonans with a criminal record,” said Noreen Bishop, Managing Director and Head of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Arizona. “We are proud to support Valley of the Sun United Way’s work to help talented people reenter the workforce so that they can support their families, fill in-demand jobs, and contribute to the economy.”
Valley of the Sun United Way’s Fair Chance Collaborative is an ongoing workforce initiative focused on preparing justice-impacted individuals for employment, connecting them to quality jobs, and aligning services to support long-term success.
Since launching in 2024, after receiving an initial $500,000 in philanthropic support from JPMorganChase, the Fair Chance Collaborative has built strong momentum and laid the groundwork for comprehensive progress and action. The initiative has engaged more than 40 community-based organizations, nearly 50 employers, public agencies, and higher education partners to advance inclusive hiring practices across Arizona.
Through its work, the Collaborative has supported nearly 900 justice-impacted individuals with workforce readiness, education pathways, mentoring, and reentry services, resulting in more than 218 individuals securing full-time, family-sustaining employment. These investments have also strengthened the broader ecosystem by investing in community partners who directly serve justice-impacted individuals to build capacity and help break barriers to employment.
In addition, the initiative has supported 16 employers in adopting fair chance hiring practices, representing a combined workforce of more than 500,000 employees, helping drive both cultural and operational shifts in how employers’ approach inclusive hiring.
This work has strengthened coordination across workforce, education, and reentry systems, positioning Valley of the Sun United Way as a trusted backbone organization in Maricopa County and a key partner in broader alignment efforts. Key partnerships with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, the Department of Economic Security, and the Arizona Board of Regents, and various reentry community stakeholders, as well as participation in the national Justice-Impacted Student Project have further expanded access to education and career pathways.
Arizona faces a significant workforce opportunity: nearly one in three adults in the state has a criminal record, and thousands of individuals return from incarceration each year seeking to reenter the workforce. At the same time, employers across key industries continue to face persistent labor shortages.
The Fair Chance Collaborative helps bridge this gap by engaging employers, expanding hiring pathways, and aligning services across workforce development, education, and community-based systems. This work also supports broader statewide efforts, including Reentry 2030, aimed at improving outcomes for individuals returning to their communities.
“This moment represents a real opportunity to scale what works,” said Emma Garcia, Chief Community Development and Engagement Officer at Valley of the Sun United Way. “By aligning partners and focusing on both employer needs and individual success, we can build a stronger, more connected workforce ecosystem.”
The Fair Chance Collaborative is part of Valley of the Sun United Way’s workforce development strategy, focused on expanding economic mobility and strengthening Arizona’s long-term competitiveness.
As Arizona continues to grow, Valley of the Sun United Way’s role as a connector and catalyst will remain critical to ensuring opportunity is accessible to all—and that employers have access to the talent they need to thrive.
For more information or to get involved in the Fair Chance Collaborative, please contact Vannessa Moreno at vmoreno@vsuw.org or visit www.vsuw.org/fairchance.
