On Tuesday, Oct. 7 job seekers with criminal histories will get a second chance at gainful employment.
Since 2019, the Jefferson County Second Chance Hiring Fair has opened up employment opportunities for hundreds of job seekers. While anyone is welcome to attend, organizers say the event is an opportunity for people with misdemeanor or felony records to re-enter the workforce in an effort to break employment barriers.
The hiring fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at downtown Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium. Click here to register.
“It’s important for us to be a part of the solution and for those who have been touched by the system to be gainfully employed. They want to change their lives and we want to help,” District Attorney Danny Carr said in an earlier interview.
“We hope providing this space for those individuals will help them get back on track and help them become productive members of society.”
The event is a collaboration between the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Alabama Career Center System, WorkFaith Birmingham, more 50 local employers and resource providers.
Carr said employing people who are justice-impacted can help lower recidivism rates by giving them a purpose.
In April, more than 600 people attended the hiring fair and 200 people left with a new job and renewed hope for their future.
Roosevelt Morgan, with the Birmingham Society of Human Resource Management, will be helping job seekers with their resumes and interview skills.
“We’re nonjudgmental…We understand that people need to work in order to give back to the community. And so we want to ensure that those avenues are open for you,” Morgan said.
“We want to show you that you don’t have to go back to that old lifestyle that might have got you in trouble…Come out, find a job, find something that you like doing, and do something that you can be proud of.”
The employers include the city of Birmingham, Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Hilton, Bradford Health Services, Avient, O’Neal Steel, Onin Staffing, Alabama Power, America’s Thrift Store, ABC Select Spirits and Jefferson State Community College.
“Let’s get you comfortable. Let’s ensure you’re putting your best foot forward. And let’s get you a job today. A lot of people come out of the Second Chance Job Fair with a position, and we want to continue that,” Morgan said.
“We all deserve a second chance. How can we help make that easier for you?
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