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Valley of the Sun United Way’s new Fair Chance Collaborative aims to arm businesses with the resources and tools needed to incorporate Fair Chance hiring practices.
Fair Chance employment is the practice of intentionally and proactively expanding opportunities for employment and upward mobility for individuals who are justice impacted, such as those who have had contact with courts, jails, or prisons.
A quarter of all Americans have a criminal record. Yet, without access to second-chance employment opportunities, this vast pool of potential talent remains on the sidelines, unable to contribute their skills as employers struggle to fill workforce gaps.
By supporting Fair Chance employers, this Collaborative aims to increase the number of justice-involved individuals who secure family-supporting jobs.
✔ Many companies have policies that explicitly exclude justice-involved individuals from consideration, creating significant barriers to employment for these job seekers.
✔ Securing well-paying entry-level jobs can reduce recidivism among justice-involved job seekers, studies have shown.
✔ Offering quality employment to individuals with criminal backgrounds is vital for fostering safer communities and a thriving workforce.
The Collaborative was catalyzed by an investment from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. It will be supported by Envoy, a social impact consulting firm that has led Fair Chance employment initiatives nationwide, including with the Second Chance Business Coalition.
For more information on how you will create Mighty Change for jobseekers in Maricopa County, contact:
Vannessa Moreno
Community Development & Engagement Manager
vmoreno@vsuw.org
