Igniting Intentionally Inclusive Cultures: Hiring Second-Chance Workers
Leaders are talking about diversity and inclusion in the wake of nearly 130,000 deaths from COVID-19, with infections heavily weighted toward people of color. At the same time, the world collectively gasped at seeing firsthand the devastating impact of violence and systemic over-policing in the United States, primarily targeted at people of color. Black and brown people are disproportionately represented at every step in the criminal justice system.
Approximately 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal background—that’s 70 million American adults with a criminal record. Shutting these workers out of employment opportunities costs the U.S. economy $80 billion every year, while the damage to families and communities is immeasurable.
OBJECTIVES
- Learn why the best hire I ever made was a Second Chance Worker
- Understand why Second Chance hiring isn’t charity?
- How to make a measurable and meaningful impact in your organization and in the community
- Discover statistics showing big benefits from Second Chance hiring strategies
Bernadette Jones
Bernadette Jones is a trailblazing HR leader with over 20 years of experience crafting "Culture-First" solutions across diverse organizations. As Human Resource Committee Chair at Richmond Art Center and Professional Development Chair for SHRM Northern California, she champions intentional inclusion and culture-first practices. Bernadette's innovative "Respect in the Workplace Starts With Me®" workshop series addresses crucial compliance and cultural issues. With SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications, she brings deep HR expertise to her roles. Bernadette's leadership in Visionova's participation in SHRM's National HR Registered Apprenticeship Program demonstrates her commitment to nurturing HR talent and enhancing workplace environments. Her work connects over 27,000 HR professionals across 16 SHRM chapters in Northern California.