Untapped Workforce: Benefits of Being a Fair Chance Employer

View the event flyer here.

The success of any business depends on hiring the
right people. When nearly one in three Americans has
a criminal record, employers severely limit their talent
pool if they don’t consider Fair Chance job candidates.

Why say ‘yes’ to people with criminal
backgrounds?
»»Fair Chance employment opens opportunities to
often overlooked workers who have experiences and
characteristics that make them ideal employees.
They’re hard working, loyal – and they’ve already
served their sentence.
»»Fair Chance workers perform equal to or better than
their counterparts without records.
»»Employers increase the talent pool, meet their legal
obligations, boost business growth, improve their
communities – and perhaps qualify for a tax credit.

Join us to learn up to date information on how to be
a successful Fair Chance Employer. Hear heartfelt
presentations from housing director, Richard McLemore
II and author, Emily Baxter. In-depth discussion will
take place with Minnesota Department of Corrections
and Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A., on the benefits of hiring
those with previous convictions and disparate impacts
resulting from criminal records. Learn about state
and national advocacy programs that are currently
happening to make the reach of criminal background
checks less severe. The event will wrap up with an
employer panel to discuss success stories in our region.

Keynote: Emily Baxter – “We Are All Criminals”
Emily is the executive director and developer of WAAC.
Prior, Emily served as the director of advocacy and
public policy at the Council on Crime and Justice in
Minneapolis, where she worked on successful Ban the
Box and expungement expansion efforts, and as an
assistant public defender at the Regional Native Public
Defense Corporation.
 
8:00-8:30 registration and light breakfast