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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

How to Keep Hope When Your Second Chance is Taken Away

After college, Alex made some wrong turns and unfortunately found himself involved with the justice system. However, he believed that one day he could still find a good career doing what he loved.

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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

How Long Should Someone Be Punished After They Make a Mistake?

Born and bred in Cincinnati, Dion's passion for music clashed with the harsh reality of post-incarceration employment struggles. Now, as Jailbird Issy, he fights for change alongside CEO.

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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

From Rejection to Entrepreneurship: A Journey Beyond a Background Check

Marvin turned employment setbacks into a mission. Now with his own business, he's offering an equal opportunity to others with past mistakes.

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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

Everyone Needs a Fair Chance

Left hanging due to a background check after being promised a job Bridget, a mother of two, faced hiring discrimination. Seeking refuge, she found a fair chance with CEO to rebuild her life.

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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

An Indefinite Punishment

Benjamin's post-incarceration journey exposes the reality of hiring discrimination. When one door closed due to bias, CEO was there to help open another, offering a fair chance at redemption.

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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

A [background check] company that has never met me made the decision on my employment

CEO's Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) equipped Criss with vital skills post-incarceration, including navigating discussions about his past conviction. However, despite his preparedness, outdated discriminatory hiring practices overshadowed his potential

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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

A Workforce That Holds Your Past Against You

Despite Rolando's degree in electrical engineering, upon release, his past outweighed his hard work with employers. His experience highlights the urgent need for reform for justice-impacted individuals.

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March 31, 2024

More Than a Background

A Background Check Doesn’t Show Who You Are Today

Dion's journey post-incarceration was met with barriers. Despite securing employment, he faced unjust termination. However, with access to CEO's impactful programs, he found a path to a fulfilling career in healthcare.

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March 30, 2024

More Than a Background

When Society Judges You For Your Past, How Can You Move On?

If you looked up the word motivated in the dictionary, you would see a picture of Matthew when he came home after 20 years inside – he worked full time on a transitional work crew for the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), used his lunch break to study for the Commercial Driver's License test, and spent his nights scanning Indeed for a quality job, sitting in a transition house and knowing that his life was getting better by the day.

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March 26, 2024

Participant Stories

“You Have Somewhere to Go” - CEO Charlotte Site Supervisor Jalisa and Her Path to Success

Jalisa, a site supervisor at the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Charlotte, not only uplifts herself but also empowers the individuals under her wing to reclaim their lives and get back on track.

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March 1, 2024

Participant Stories

A Self-Motivated Participant Finds a Career

Some people take a crisis and turn it into an opportunity, and Jason is one of them. Sentenced to prison at the age of 18, Jason knew that he could dwell on his mistakes and live an unhappy life inside, or he could pursue a purpose and be satisfied in a bad situation.

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February 15, 2024

Policy Updates

Union Pathways Paving the Way for New Yorker’s Social and Economic Mobility

Each year, more than 500,000 individuals return to their communities from prison, seeking meaningful employment and the opportunity for economic mobility. Union-affiliated jobs represent an incredible opportunity for individuals returning home from incarceration to achieve economic mobility as the union often successfully advocates for higher wages and stronger worker protections.

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