I wrote a brief diary prior to holding this event and here I am two days later after it has all been said and done.
I help people find jobs for a living...
That is a real simplistic view of what I do on a daily basis.
On Wednesday the 22nd, the results of an idea I had about 8 months ago sitting on my deck were played out and I couldn't be more pleased with the results.
Keep reading please...
Lots of people have criminal backgrounds. We have lots of discussions here about these broad concepts of how the criminal justice system effects people and it just makes me feel so good to be in the thick of it.
I get to see people functioning within that smaller context or more localized if you will. These larger issues we talk about are certainly important but to the people I see on a daily basis most of their concerns don't require intervention on behalf of a government body. In most cases the government is a hindrance to their success. I know we don't like to talk about that but it's true. Most of the people I work with want to have jobs so they can meet their own needs in the way they see fit and that is where I come in.
The Second Chance Career Fair we held was open only to people who had criminal backgrounds. When I first came up with this idea I wanted to keep it small. In order to get employers to come and meet with people they have to see the benefit. Fortunately I have built up enough trust in our community employers that they were able to see the benefit of coming to a career fair where all the candidates were going to have a background.
We are talking about some large employers, some nationally known others were large local employers. Some of them weren't sure about the idea but once it was over, I knew that some perceptions of who they can look at to hire changed for the better.
When you have a background and you apply for a job or attend a job fair judgement can weigh heavily on your mind. It's almost like the background manifests itself in a physical form. You can see it in peoples demeanor. People are introducing themselves as "felons" (again thanks to the government, I can explain if needed) instead of skilled workers and that more than anything can eliminate someone from getting a job they had a shot at.
My goal was to eliminate or decrease the significance of that weight and it worked. I've held plenty of great job fairs and all of them have candidates with backgrounds but this event was different. The people who attended were better prepared to meet employers, the crowd of people was more diverse, and everyone was having more fun than any other event I've hosted.
It doesn't hurt that I know how to throw a good party anyway but to see people come in to our building feeling welcomed, being recognized as a preferred guest, and being able to tell them that the employers who were inside waiting to see them knew that everyone had a criminal background also manifested itself in a physical form.
It was that "I have a shot!" kind of look and it is something I am very proud to have contributed to.
Can't wait to do it again. While your at it check out a company called Sun Cedar out of Kansas and donate, your time, money, or clothing to your local Goodwill, especially in Minnesota ;)