“Released” Reception at Mid-Manhattan Library!

On March 5 the Center for Employment Opportunities and guests celebrated the opening reception and screening of Released with Conviction at the Mid-Manhattan Library!

Mindy Tarlow, Executive Director of CEO, introduced Linda Gibbs, NYC Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services, who began the opening remarks. Mindy then introduced the screening of “Released with Conviction,” a rare perspective of nine people who share their struggles returning home from prison and the joys of reconnecting with their families, communities and the workplace. William Snipes, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell spoke after the screening ended.

The exhibit is on display through April 30th, so be sure to visit if you are in midtown!

“Released” Opens at Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza!

Last Wednesday night was the opening for Released with Conviction at the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn! Despite the rainy weather (again!), exhibit viewers were excited for the screening of Released—a rare perspective of nine people who talk about their struggles returning home from prison and the joys of reconnecting with their families, communities and the workplace—and to hear an informative panel discussion on the topic of second chances.

Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library, gave the welcome and opening remarks at the panel discussion. Meredith Walters of the Brooklyn Public Library also served as the moderator for the evening, asking questions about second chances and challenges interrelated with re-entry. The panelists were Stephen Levin, Councilman of the 33rd District in Brooklyn; Mindy Tarlow, Executive Director of CEO; Nick Higgins, Supervising Librarian of Correctional Services; and Baron Johnson, a CEO program graduate and participant featured in the multimedia exhibit.

Councilman Levin discussed the challenge of affordable housing in New York, an issue he has tackled while in office, and its effects on re-entry. Mindy Tarlow explained how programs like CEO are effective in reducing recidivism and saving tax-payer dollars, while also creating safer communities. Nick Higgins talked about the NYPL’s Correctional Services Program, which provides books for incarcerated individuals in New York as well as information about resources they may need when they are released. Baron Johnson shared his thoughts with the audience on how his full-time employment has helped him during the re-entry process, as well as on how he reconnected with his family after his release.

Missed the opening night? No worries! The exhibit at Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza is the just the first location in Brooklyn and will be displayed through April 28. You can visit during the library’s normal hours. This exhibit is also at the Flatbush branch of the Brooklyn Public Library through March 28 and at the Mid-Manhattan Library through April 30.

Released with Conviction multimedia exhibit was first displayed at CultureFIX gallery on the Lower East Side in June 2011 and was exhibited again at the Bronx Library Center in November 2011.

CEO Highlighted in the New York Times and The Nation!

After MDRC announced the results of CEO’s evaluation, the media has taken notice to our organization’s hard work! We’ve been highlighted by a few top media sources, which you can read about below.

In his editorial “The White Underclass” on the February 8th New York Times Opinion Page, Nicholas Kristof singles out the Center for Employment Opportunities for the compelling results of a randomized study by MDRC. The results of the study show that CEO’s jobs program for newly released prison inmates left them up to 22 percent less likely to be convicted of another crime. In addition, the program more than paid for itself: each $1 spent delivered up to $3.85 in benefits.

To read the article click here.

In his February 10 article in The Nation, Greg Kaufmann focused attention on the randomized study of CEO and how it significantly reduces recidivism and cost savings.

“The nonpartisan, nonprofit social and education policy research organization, MDRC, found that program participants were 16 to 22 percent less likely to be convicted of a crime and reincarcerated; and cost savings associated with reduced recidivism were between $1.26 and $3.85 for every $1 in program spending.

“’It is very unusual to find recidivism effects like this,’ MDRC spokesman John Hutchins commented. “’In fact, other research on transitional jobs programs that we’ve conducted has not shown the same results.’”

To read the article click here.

CEO on Important EEOC Settlement

The Center for Employment Opportunities’ Executive Director/CEO Mindy Tarlow was quoted in an article detailing the historic settlement in which the EEOC narrowed the scope of criminal background checks that employers may use on prospective employees. In the finding, the EEOC determined that employers may not use blanket exclusions in hiring practices, particularly for individuals who were arrested but not convicted, applicants convicted for minor offenses, and applicants convicted decades earlier. Tarlow noted that with overly broad bans ”job candidates never get in the front door and don’t have any chance to explain their situation.”  The ruling by the EEOC should go a long way in reversing that trend.

To view the article please click here.

Released with Conviction at the Mid-Manhattan Library!

Just as Released with Conviction closed last week at the Bronx Library Center, we are taking our exhibit on the road to other New York Public Library branches! Yesterday we were busy installing Released with Conviction at the Mid-Manhattan branch of the NYPL.

Released with Conviction multimedia exhibit offers a rarely seen perspective of those returning home from prison or jail through photography and interviews. Three photographers documented the lives of nine participants, all at different stages of the re-entry process. The photographs along with quotes tell the stories of these individuals and their families and friends on the journey with them.

CEO San Diego has Opened!

Released with Conviction Opening Night a Huge Success!

The opening night event of Released with Conviction on November 16th was a huge success! The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) was proud to present the Released with Conviction multimedia exhibit with film screening and panel discussion at the Bronx Library Center.

CEO was thrilled with the community’s response to the event. Over 80 people-who made it out despite the chilly rainy weather!-watched Released with Conviction, a rare perspective of nine people who relate their struggles returning home from prison with the joys of reconnecting with family, community and the workplace.

After the screening, a panel discussion ensued about the larger topic of Second Chances. Sharon Jarvis, Head Librarian, was the moderator for the panel.

Bronx Council Member, Maria del Carmen Arroyo shared her strong support of CEO’s efforts and how important CEO’s services are not only to the formerly incarcerated but also to the families and communities that benefit from them. Council Member Arroyo is a strong supporter of the ATI (Alternatives to Incarceration) Coalition of which CEO is a proud member.

Mindy Tarlow, the CEO and Executive Director of CEO, discussed the mission of the organization, which is to help formerly incarcerated people find employment. She shared that, even in this tough economic climate, the proven model of CEO has led to 1600 job placements in the past year.

Also on the panel was Nick Higgens, Supervising Librarian for Correctional Services. Mr Higgens’ department brings mobile libraries to prisons and offers inmates a choice of reading material and advises them of the services the public library system can offer after incarceration.

Baron Johnson, a CEO graduate who was featured in Released with Conviction, touched the audience with his honesty and his humor as he relayed his story and his fears about reentry.

If you were unable to attend the opening night celebration, don’t fret! The Released with Conviction exhibit and screening will run through December 17th at the Bronx Library Center. If you enjoyed Released with Conviction, stay tuned for other upcoming events at other libraries throughout the city!

CEO Buffalo Receives Award from Mayor Brown!

On November 16, Buffalo’s Mayor Byron W. Brown and Citizen Services Commissioner Oswaldo Mestre presented CEO and fellow organizations with certificates for their work on Buffalo’s successful Clean Sweep program. The latest prevention program of the Save Our Streets (SOS) Task Force, the Clean Sweep program works to mitigate some of the challenges the citizens of Buffalo currently face and help improve the overall quality of life.

CEO crew members help during a Clean Sweep

In 2010 there were 23 different clean sweeps, resulting in many positive changes for the city. Services from various different agencies have, in the past, included: replacing missing or damaged street signs, rescuing animals from unsafe conditions, removing graffiti, distributing free smoke detectors to homes that needed them, addressing gas leaks and disconnecting illegal connections, providing referrals for children and adults to receive free or discounted dentistry services, and much more!

So how does CEO fit into all of this? According to Jeff Conrad, the Erie County Director of CEO, “Clean Sweeps entail CEO crews working with several other City of Buffalo departments such as Forestry, Police, Fire, Public Works, Sanitation, and Community Services. This is an extension of our normal duties working with the City of Buffalo.” Two CEO crews of 14-16 people assisted in the effort of removing debris and weeds inside and outside of a property, cutting overgrown grass, and cleaning up garbage.

Just how impressive is the work done by our crews? There were 234.82 tons of debris moved from homes, and out of the 116 lots with debris CEO was responsible for 114 of those properties. And they accomplished all of this within a regular work day. Amazing work!

Jeff received the Mayor’s award on behalf of CEO on November 16 at the annual Clean Sweep debriefing. CEO was mentioned throughout the meeting and we received high marks for our work in the neighborhoods. In particular we commend our Buffalo Site Supervisor Lonnie Angel for their leadership and effort on the sites! Congrats to the entire Buffalo team for your hard work and dedication!