Connecting Hard-to-Serve Populations with Jobs: Promising Practices for Successful Re-entry

Registration for this webinar is now closed.

During this Exploring Innovation in Community Development webinar series from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, we will explore workforce development programs that have successfully connected hard-to-serve individuals with good jobs that help them transition to stable, productive lives. Each webinar will present effective models and best practices that offer ex-offenders, disconnected youth and immigrant professionals the skills needed to obtain quality jobs with the possibility of career advancement.

This first webinar in the series, on Jan. 21, will highlight successful re-entry solutions for former inmates. Presenters will share two promising practices that are helping ex-offenders gain marketable skills and get back to work:

• Bill Heiser, California director for the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), will explain how CEO’s program model helps people coming home from prison enter the workforce by providing life skill education, short-term paid transitional employment, full-time job placement and post-placement services. Addressing the employment needs of people with criminal convictions through the CEO model helps reduce recidivism and makes them more likely to build a foundation for a responsible, substantial life for themselves and their families.
• Debbie Mukamal, executive director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center (SCJC), will discuss the fact that traditional employment is simply not an option for many individuals with a criminal record. The limited options for legitimate employment are discouraging and can tempt a person back into criminal behavior. Mukamal will speak about successful efforts to harness and redirect this "entrepreneurial" spirit to self-employment and job creation.

Participation in this webinar is free; however, registration is required. Register for this session at the Exploring Innovation in Community Development website. 

For more information, please contact Faith Weekly at 502-568-9216 or faith.e.weekly@stls.frb.org.

Mark your calendar now for these future webinars in this series:

• Feb. 25, 2016 — Connecting Hard-to-Serve Populations with Jobs: Breaking Down Barriers for Youth Unemployment
• March 30, 2016 — Connecting Hard-to-Serve Populations with Jobs: Successful Solutions for Skilled Immigrant Integration