Local Ecosystems
Explore Networks for Second Chance Employment
With a growing membership of large employers serving communities across the country, the Second Chance Business Coalition (SCBC) is committed to accelerating employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records.
We know that most hiring decisions happen locally, and among the best ways to encourage second chance employment is to help SCBC members — and other employers across the United States — connect with local initiatives designed to link employers with recruitment pipelines. Our guide to local second chance ecosystems is designed to facilitate those connections and elevate outstanding partnerships and collaboratives happening in cities and regions around the country.
Please note that both “fair chance” and “second chance” are used interchangeably in this resource, reflecting the different ways that the issue area is addressed at the local level.
What Is a Local Ecosystem?
A local ecosystem is a network of employers, community-based organizations, public-sector leaders and other trusted partners in an identified geographic region that collaborate to improve and expand job opportunities for individuals with criminal records.
Why Create Local Ecosystems?
Many employers have a strong interest in adopting second chance employment as a talent strategy but lack support to identify recruitment partners and build the internal practices necessary to recruit, hire and retain qualified candidates with past convictions. In order to improve employment outcomes for employers and jobseekers alike, community-based organizations and business associations across the country have created local ecosystems to engage local employers, community partners and public-sector leaders and to align efforts to improve connectivity and expand job opportunities for individuals with criminal records.
Who Is Involved?
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- Employers: Companies that are already hiring, or are interested in hiring, candidates with criminal records.
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- Community Partners: Community-based organizations that provide reentry and/or workforce development programming and serve individuals with records.
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- Conveners: Trusted entities that can serve as the host of the initiative, bringing together service providers and the business community.
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- Advocates: Business leaders, community advocates or other individuals or groups that have an interest in driving policy change at the local, state or federal level.
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- Public-Sector Leaders: Policymakers, corrections leaders, workforce staff and other government officials who can help drive second chance practices.
Interested in learning more?
Reach out to info@secondchancebusinesscoalition.org for more information on Local Ecosystems, or to submit your own ecosystem.