Fair Opportunities Employment

Each year thousands of Minnesotans exit incarceration and come back into our community. Too often it feels that even though they have served their sentence, they are continually defined by that worst day, decision or moment. 

Ramsey County and the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County are offering information, resources and events to help employers better understand the value of hiring individuals impacted by the criminal justice system.

Upcoming Events: 

• Fair Chance Re-entry Simulation, April 16, 2024, 9-11 a.m. Participants role-play the part of an individual recently released from jail or prison who is attempting to successfully reenter society. By navigating a scenario-based simulation, employers and other stakeholders gain a fuller understanding of specific obstacles people face and how we can work together to provide a fair chance for employment. Register here or contact Jay Grossman: jgrossman@getrepowered.org. 
• Investing in Success: The Business Case for Fair Chance Hiring, April 9, 12 p.m. What is holding you back from implementing fair chance hiring practices? Don’t let misconceptions keep you from hiring qualified candidates because of a record of arrests, convictions, or incarceration. Join Jobs for the Future for this special LinkedIn Live event as we set the record straight with the undeniable business case for fair chance hiring. A panel of experts will share real-life examples, insights, and strategies to help your business thrive with this updated and inclusive hiring practice.
• Second Chance Month Job Fair, April 30, 12-3 p.m. at Westwood Community Church Bush Lake.  Envision your team's diverse potential as a second chance employer. Connect with prospective job candidates. For more information email matt.moeller@westwoodcc.org. 
• Power Within Us helps support young adults ages 16-24 who are currently on probation in Ramsey County connect to paid job training and education programs. Resource sessions are held every second Tuesday from 4-5:30 p.m. at Arlington Hills Community Center.  Learn more.

Employer Resources:

• Inclusive Employer Toolkit: Offers concrete practices to build diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces in the areas of staff recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention.
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit: A federal tax credit available to employers who invest in American job seekers in a WOTC targeted group who have consistently faced barriers to employment. 
• Research Supports Fair Chance Policies - released by the National Employment Law Project
• Federal Bonding Program: A U.S. Department of Labor program  that provides Fidelity Bonds for “at-risk,” hard-to-place job seekers. The bonds cover the first six months of employment at no cost to the job applicant or the employer.
• Twin Cities R!se Employer Fair Chance Hiring Guide
• Brennan Center for Justice: Conviction, Imprisonment and Lost Earnings Report
• Brennan Center For Justice: Lost Wages Fact Sheet
• Numbers We Cannot Ignore Presentation by Damon Drake
• Normalizing Opportunity: A Policy Agenda to Promote Economic Advancement for People with Criminal Records - released by Jobs for the Future
• Harvard Business Review: How Employers can Set Formerly Incarcerated Workers up for Success 
• Jobs for the Future Center for Justice & Economic Advancement: Breaking down systemic barriers and creating economic advancement for people with criminal records
• Indeed:  Indeed is committed to helping 30M people facing barriers get hired by 2030 
• Checkr’s Fair Chance Hub: Guides, articles and more on the topic of Fair Chance Hiring. 
• SHRM: Getting Talent Back to Work Certificate
• Bamboo HR: How Fair Chance Hiring Benefits Businesses and Candidates 
• Fair Opportunities Article Series:
  • March 2023 - Breaking Barriers to Fair Opportunities for job seekers and employers in Ramsey County
  • April 2023 - Breaking Barriers Through Art Creates Fair Opportunities
  • May 2023 - Fair Opportunities Connections Through Art and The Art of Healing
  • June 2023 - In Ramsey County, Ujamaa means Collaboration and Transformation
  • July 2023 - Mental Health, Character and Responsibility: Building a Bridge to Reentry
  • August 2023 - Intentional Hiring for Justice-Impacted Individuals
  • September 2023 - Department of Corrections: A Bridge to Employment Opportunities
  • October 2023 -  Relationships and Trust Necessary for Community Reentry
  • November 2023 - Wildflyer Coffee Brews Solutions for Youth Homelessness
  • December 2023 -Breaking Down Barriers for Justice Impacted Individuals is a Workforce Solution

Questions? Contact Rebecca.Milbrandt@ramseycounty.us.

The Fair Opportunities Hiring initiative is a collaboration between Ramsey County, the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County and many community partners, including Alpha Emergence Behavioral Health, Art from the Inside, Repowered, Strive Staffing, Ujamaa Place and We Resolve.