Fair Chance employment, similar to all workforce initiatives, must happen at the local and regional level. Envoy works closely with local and statewide conveners such as workforce boards, chambers of commerce, United Ways, and association leaders to create regional Fair Chance initiatives. The role of the convener is to bring together the key elements of a Fair Chance ecosystem, including employers, community-based organizations and jobseekers to grow and sustain a Fair Chance initiative. Envoy’s role with these initiatives, or ecosystems, typically includes engaging cohorts of employers to build and implement Fair Chance practices in their companies, and become leaders for their peers. In addition, Envoy leads broad-based education and resource support for convener staff and the business community to build communitywide tools and resources to drive Fair Chance employment. Key elements of our ecosystem work include:

 

• Leading Envoy’s Fair Chance Implementation Series, a cohort-based opportunity for 6-12 employers to build and execute Fair Chance talent strategies, including updating HR policies, building recruiting partnerships, and creating internal and external communication plans. 

 

• Developing a local Fair Chance Employment Hub for employers with resources such as case studies, tactical guidance on policies and practices, and profiles of reentry and workforce partners to consider for recruiting and supporting justice-impacted candidates. 

 

• Supporting business-facing staff to work with employers to create Fair Chance practices and build talent strategies that include jobseekers with past convictions. 

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• Leading broad-based convenings and virtual sessions ranging from case-making to recruiting to background screening, helping more employers understand the value and potential of Fair Chance employment

 

If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out to Cassi Spruill, Managing Director