Thia faced some challenges throughout her life and was incarcerated for a year. In December 2022, she was released and was nervous about rebuilding her future.
“My confidence was gone,” Thia shared.
She never imagined anyone would give her a fair second chance.
Thia found support in St. Mary’s Food Bank and the Skills Center Program, one of the nonprofit partners Valley of the Sun United Way is proud to support through the Fair Chance Collaborative.
The Fair Chance Collaborative began in 2024, catalyzed by a grant from the JPMorganChase Foundation, to address the multi-dimensional needs of individuals in the Phoenix metropolitan area who have been involved with the justice system.
According to a 2024 study, Arizona has the 8th highest incarceration rate in the country, with over 50,000 incarcerated and over 70,000 on probation or parole. A 2022 analysis indicated that it took formerly incarcerated individuals an average of over six months to find their first job after being released. Yet it has been found that 82% of managers think the value new employees with criminal records bring to organizations is as high or higher than that of workers that do not have criminal records.
“About one-third of all Americans have a criminal record, yet many companies have policies that explicitly exclude justice-involved individuals from consideration,” said Emma Garcia, Chief Community Development Officer at Valley of the Sun United Way. “We’re partnering with others to increase Fair Chance hiring so those involved in the justice system have every opportunity to succeed.”
The Collaborative’s goals build off existing efforts and explore comprehensive and interconnected Fair Chance approaches, including job training, placement, hiring and retention, as well as resources for housing, healthcare, financial health and entrepreneurial training to support justice-involved individuals.
The Collaborative also supports nonprofits that assist justice-involved individuals by bringing together employers, educational institutions, government leaders and other key stakeholders to create meaningful change in Fair Chance hiring practices.
The program at St Mary’s prepares formerly incarcerated and other vulnerable individuals for jobs specifically in the food and warehouse industries, both of which provide opportunities for advancement and pay raises.
Through participating in St. Mary’s program, Thia was able to develop a skillset that enabled her overcome barriers to employment. She learned workplace safety skills, culinary techniques and how to use food equipment.
Learning these skills allowed her to regain her confidence. St. Mary’s also helped her find a new job and turn her perspective around.
“I learned discipline, teamwork, and was given encouragement even though I walked in here feeling like a nobody,” Thia said. “Before the program, I thought no one would give me a job. They would look at my record and start at the bottom. But now, I am going to be a line cook!”
Thia began her new job at Desert Botanical Garden in their kitchen after she completed her time in the program at St. Mary’s.
Thanks to Valley of the Sun United Way’s donors, the organization will continue to dedicate its efforts to working with nonprofits like St. Mary’s, uniting the community and supporting justice-involved individuals as they build successful careers.
“Enrolling in the program was my best decision,” Thia said. “I am a prime example of someone who’s never held a job for more than a year. St. Mary’s Food Bank showed me I don’t have to let my past be a part of my future. I’m excited about working again and being a productive citizen.”
