Guest Commentary | The power of second chances: Opening doors to employment and hope
Everyone in life has made a mistake, big or small. It’s what we learn from those mistakes that help shape us into who we are. As the senior director of workforce relations at Better Together, when I see a candidate with a background talking with employers, being upfront about their record but eager to contribute, something in me clicks. That’s a person who, yes, made a mistake, but they’re owning it. They just need a second chance, and that’s what Better Together is here to offer them.
For the eighth consecutive year, Better Together, in partnership with 18 church partners, broke employment barriers by hosting a series of background-friendly job fairs as part of Nationwide Days of Second Chances. Churches, volunteers, businesses and nonprofits across the country all came together to promote the power of second chances and eliminate barriers such as incarceration, homelessness, lack of transportation, gaps on a resume or unreliable child care.
These events welcomed those who are struggling to break through impersonal online job applications and allowed them to meet employers face-to-face. Employers took the time to listen to stories and focus on potential rather than someone’s past.
Eighteen job fairs took place across six different states, including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Ohio and Washington D.C., serving 3,786 job seekers. More than 200 hiring employers participated in these events, 2,851 interviews were scheduled or conducted, and 492 job seekers received conditional job offers on the spot.
Through these events, 3,786 people’s lives were touched in some way — all thanks to the support of loving neighbors across the country.
This year, we also broke a personal record, with one event having the most job seekers attend a Better Together job fair. First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Florida, welcomed 552 job seekers, helping them find work and support.
These job fairs are more than just an event; they’re transformative experiences. Job seekers are provided with the resources they need to look and feel their best, helping to boost their confidence.
Attendees can also take advantage of free one-on-one job coaching sessions to review resumes and interviewing skills, along with complimentary haircuts and clothing at some locations.
Nearly all job seekers leave our job fairs with hope in their hearts. Upon receiving a job offer or interview, candidates get to ring the Opportunity Bell, a sound that is soon followed by a room filled with joy. Jamario is just one of many who had that opportunity this year.
Jamario came to one of the Tampa hiring events with holes in his clothes and shoes, thinking he wasn’t dressed well enough to be there. But the father-to-be who got out of county jail in January went in anyway. There, he met Kydia Washington, a volunteer who would later help him get work clothes and supplies and invite him to attend church with her.
Tiffany Johnson of Forged Paths, a hiring employer partner, also met Jamario at the job fair. When interviewing him, she looked beyond his tattered clothes, sensing his accountability and desire to provide for his family. She offered him a job on the spot.
Fast forward seven days and Jamario was up before dawn, putting on his new cargo pants and slip-resistant boots. He put on his safety hat and said “See you. I’m off to work.”
Jamario’s story is a powerful one, but it’s only one of many.
So, take the leap of faith. Sign up for a local job fair. You never know what a second chance may lead to.
Every year, we see hundreds of people’s renewed hope when they’re given another opportunity. But we can’t do it alone.
If you’re a business looking to hire, partner with us for an upcoming job fair and help give someone a second chance. If you’d like to support families in your community as a job coach, mentor or host family, we’d love to welcome you as a volunteer.
To learn more about opportunities to get involved or read more impact stories, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
Travis McGilvary is the senior director of workforce relations at Better Together, a nonprofit organization that helps parents in crisis address the root causes of their struggle and keep their children out of foster care.