ONLINE: Diversity & Inclusion Workshop Series: The Business Case for Supportive Social Systems for Responsible Re-entry

Prior to COVID-19, the United States faced a historically tight labor market. The increased demand for workforce talent requires innovative solutions and accessing recruitment pipelines across all populations. One of the most underutilized workforce pools across the nation are individuals who were formerly incarcerated. More than 19 million justice involved individuals currently reside in communities throughout the country and face ongoing challenges related to employment, housing, transportation, and food security, among other difficulties. Nearly 75 percent of returning citizens are unemployed more than a year after release from incarceration costing the U.S. more than $87 billion dollars in lost GDP.
 
The KC Chamber, in partnership with Reaching Out From Within and Renaissance Solutions, LLP, invite you to join an upcoming workshop that will address the stigma attached to employing justice involved individuals and why hiring returning citizens is good for business. This program will also examine the barriers formerly incarcerated persons face when trying to successfully transition back into society. Workshop participants will learn how businesses and the community can assist returning citizens and will offer an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of the challenges people face upon release from incarceration.

Thank you to our 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Sponsors!
Presenting Diversity Sponsors for 2020 are CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy, Hallmark, and T-Mobile.
 
Our Cornerstone Sponsors are American Century Investments, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Commerce Bank, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Lockton Companies, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Saint Luke’s Health System, UMB and Waddell & Reed.
 
Our Regional Diversity Sponsors are Heavy Constructors Association, Spire and VanTrust Real Estate.
 
Our Supporting Diversity Sponsors are Andrews McMeel Universal, Bank Midwest, Children’s Mercy, Enterprise Holdings, Garmin, H&R Block, HNTB, Honeywell, Husch Blackwell, Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, KVC Health Systems, Lathrop GPM, Lead Bank, Mazuma, McCownGordon Construction, Shook Hardy & Bacon, State Street, Stinson LLP, The Builders’ Association, The University of Kansas and The University of Kansas Health System.