Jobs for the Future (JFF) is committed to breaking down the systemic barriers that prevent people with criminal records from obtaining jobs that match their skills, abilities, and aspirations. This investment from the Justice and Mobility Fund will allow JFF to expand its efforts to create pathways for people with legal system involvement by increasing talent development pipelines, collaborating with employers to implement fair chance hiring practices, and influencing state and federal policies.
Mass incarceration has had a profound impact on the economy, especially in Black communities. With one in three people in the U.S. having a record of arrest or conviction, the economy cannot afford to exclude individuals with records from the workforce. Many of these individuals face significant challenges in finding quality jobs that promote economic advancement.
JFF recognizes the urgent need to eliminate these barriers and advocates for change through its Center for Justice & Economic Advancement. Through its Center for Justice & Economic Advancement, JFF has launched several key initiatives aimed at driving economic advancement for people with records. These include the Fair Chance Employer Pledge, an employer training program designed to support employers as they adopt and implement fair chance hiring practices, as well as JFF’s Prison Education Program, which provides education practitioners who are establishing or updating postsecondary education in prison programs with access to tools and guides outlining best practices.
This award is the second significant gift from the Justice and Mobility Fund to JFF’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement. This grant will play a strategic role in advancing JFF’s goal of placing 75 million people facing systemic barriers to employment in quality jobs. It will enable the Center to continue its vital work of ensuring access to education and training opportunities, and quality jobs, while also driving the Center closer to self-sufficiency.
