Help others help your company, community
do a graphic design and marketing company, an industrial services company and an electrical business have in common? All are leaders in their industries, boast about having excellent employees who make their business extremely successful, and have hired individuals leaving prison.
HopeWorks has relied on the compassion of employers to give people leaving prison a second chance to re-engage with society and become productive citizens. In the past, employers willing to give these opportunities were limited.
Today’s low employment rates mean employers do not have enough workers to fill the large number of available jobs. Individuals recently released from prison can fill those roles but haven’t been considered a viable option. Now, some of the largest companies in our city are wisely reconsidering this population as they look to hire new employees.
Jack made a common mistake coming out of generational poverty. He dropped out of school and spent the next two years at the Shelby County Division of Corrections. While there, he received his high school degree and enrolled in a HopeWorks’ Personal and Career Development class. Upon release, he interviewed for a job and began a career where he will earn more than a living wage.
Jack is a model employee. His crew leader said it best: “He’s the first at the truck ready to work every morning, pays attention to what you show him and catches on real quick and he’s a good listener. All around he’s a good contributor to the company and the crew.”
Though finding a job is difficult, for many coming out of prison, keeping a job is more challenging. Adequate housing, reliable transportation and positive support are crucial to one’s ability to keep a job.
Mary also participated in a HopeWorks class at Shelby County Division of Corrections. Like Jack, Mary found this class offered a holistic approach to job training, working as a team and understanding the value of mentors to walk with her through hard parts of transition. After a year of working fulltime and becoming stable, with the help of HopeWorks, she applied for a job with better growth opportunities. Within six months she received a promotion.
Recently, her attendance started slipping and her employer reached out to HopeWorks. We created an open channel of communication to ensure this did not become a pattern.
This process is something HopeWorks does often, as it dramatically reduces turnover by providing additional counseling and job coaching to solve the core problem. Sometimes, transportaWhat tion issues or lack of access to stable childcare are perceived as a lack of dedication to the job and leads to employee termination. With regular communication and employee support, we can solve the problem and help people retain employment.
William received electrical, masonry and building construction training through Hope 2 Hire while incarcerated. This provided him marketable job skills. Because of the demand for trained laborers in the construction industry, William stepped into immediate employment with a commercial electrical company.
After two weeks on the job, a visit to the employer resulted in strong reviews for the man freshly released from prison. He is eager to learn and is competently trained in soft and technical skills, and has the potential to build a career and new life.
The Public Safety Institute at the University of Memphis is sponsoring a symposium June 14 titled “Helping Others Helps Your Company.” It’s an opportunity for companies to learn about the often-overlooked resource of talent reentering society. These people are eagerly looking for an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. They could be the employees your company is looking for.
Ron Wade is executive director of HopeWorks. For more information, visit whyhopeworks.org.