Fair-Chance Hiring: Shifting from Background-Check Compliance to Talent Strategy
You’ve likely heard the statistics on the high number of Americans with criminal records, and are aware of the national “ban-the-box” movement designed to prevent discrimination against such job applicants. But you might not know how to leverage this untapped talent pool while still protecting your company from negligent hiring and discrimination lawsuits. This session cuts through the rhetoric to provide tangible information on the why’s and how’s of hiring these individuals.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to analyze criminal records when making hiring decisions to reduce bias while meeting your compliance obligations.
- Be introduced to a model decision-making process.
- Identify action steps to apply in your unique organization.
- Get tips on selecting a background-check provider.
Elizabeth Speck, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Speck is the Founder and Principal of MindOpen Learning Strategies, a training, consulting, and coaching firm that helps people and organizations learn new ways to work in order to achieve social justice goals. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Development from Fielding Graduate University and an M.A. in Drama Therapy from New York University. She uses her unique background to create transformative adult learning experiences that lead to measurable business results and social impact. Prior to founding MindOpen, Elizabeth most recently led large-scale organizational and systemic change efforts as Chief Learning Officer for the Workforce Professionals Training Institute in New York City, and Senior Training Director for Safe Horizon, the nation's largest victim assistance organization. Elizabeth's doctoral research studied the workforce entry and career advancement experiences of formerly incarcerated professionals.
Roberta Meyers
Roberta Meyers is the Director of State Strategy & Reentry (DSSR). As the DSSR she executes strategic state criminal justice and health advocacy goals/priorities for Legal Action Center (LAC) and oversees the National Helping Individuals with criminal records Reenter through Employment (H.I.R.E.) Network, LAC’s national project focused on improving employment and other opportunities for people with criminal records. She has decades of experience training workforce development, corrections, and behavioral health practitioners on employment strategies that best serve job seekers with criminal histories; authored dozens of guidebooks and policy briefs on criminal record policies that impact employment, housing, and education opportunities; and testified before and served as an advisor to Congress, government agencies, and state legislators about effective reentry policies and practices that reduce recidivism. She co-leads LAC’s newest campaign, No Health=No Justice to address the intersection of historic racism in the health care and criminal justice systems. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Management, and Economics from the State University of New York/Empire State College and a Master of Science degree in Public Safety with specialization in Criminal Justice and Public Administration from Capella University.
Quote that fuels my passion to serve as an agent for justice: “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle of civil rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tarik Greene
Tarik Greene is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of M.A.D.E. Transitional Services where he oversees development of transitional services programs and strategic initiatives and partnerships. Tarik worked as the Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) and Assistant Disability Program Navigator at Rockland County’s One Stop Resource and Employment agency.
Tarik’s extensive experience includes working with people who self-disclose diagnosis related to disabilities, and/or with people who are eligible for re-entry services. His responsibilities have included conducting intake and assessments of potential clients, assisting with the development of re-employment training plans, providing quality employment referrals and successfully placing people in employment programs.
Tarik is passionate about creating an interactive and enjoyable business environment, which supports meeting the needs of business partners, colleagues, and clients while ensuring that clients are held accountable for personal self-improvement and professional self-development. Tarik successfully engineered and implemented the Ready, Set, Work! A program
at Rockland County’s One Stop agency and the Rockland County Correctional Center. He was also Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Liaison in Rockland County, to the Work for Success Statewide Program.in 2015
Under his leadership, Tarik has undertaken several initiatives, including:
Created and implemented Rockland County’s first Second Chance Job Fair focused on hiring formerly incarcerated individuals
Training Department of Labor & Workforce One staff to certify as offender employment specialists
Creating viable community partnerships with agencies such as ACCES-VR, Division of Criminal Justice Services, National Institute of Corrections, Office of the Mayor in Nyack NY, STAQ College, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.
Serving as a contributing member of the Rockland Employment Network
Serving as a board member of the Rockland County Executives ATI Advisory Board
Serving as a critical member of the Rockland County Judicial Committee for Youth, designed to provide first-time youth offenders with alternatives to incarceration.