First Friday Webinar - Strategies to Address Job Barriers & Advance a Fair Chance for Workers with Records

Description

An estimated 70 million people in the United States have an arrest or conviction record; that figure translates to nearly 1 in 3 adults, disproportionately those of color. It’s hardly uncommon to have a record, but the lifelong consequences and stigma prove devastating for many. One of the most significant barriers emerges when people with records seek employment. In recent years, policymakers have turned to fair-chance hiring reforms to dismantle hiring barriers faced by people with records, enacting “ban the box” and other policies regulating criminal background checks. Despite some progress, millions of workers still are subject to barriers within the occupational licensing arena. Senior Attorney Michelle Natividad Rodriquez and Staff Attorney Beth Avery from the National Employment Law Project (NELP) will provide background information and resources critical to this field. In addition, they will discuss strategies that raise consciousness of these issues and expand job opportunities for people with records.