Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 28, 2016, edition 1 / Page 7
Part of Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
FORUM Second Chances: The Key to Economic Prosperity Gayle Anderson Guest Columnist In December, the U.S. unemployment rate remained steady at 5 per cent, the lowest in more than seven years. By com parison, the unemployment rate in November for North Carolina was 5.7 percent, while Winston-Salem weighed in at 5.1 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some might suggest that at the local level we have finally attained full employment following a prolonged period of eco nomic decline, where all eligible people who want to work can find it at prevail ing wage rates. But our local employers tell us that is not the case for them, and we hear from current job seekers and-those who believe they are underem ployed that they have diffi culty finding jobs. Clearly there is a disconnect between available jobs and the available workforce, and this gap is affecting our ability to prosper economi /?q11U One group is having the greatest difficulty funding employment: individuals I with a prior felony convic tion. In expanding the path ways to employment for . prospective workers in our community, the Chamber has developed new resources for employers who are considering hiring formerly incarcerated indi viduals. Since 2001, the Chamber has encouraged local employers to invest in our community by hiring locally through JobNet, a free online tool for Chamber members and all job seekers that serves as a matchmaker between employers and potential employees. Last month, the Chamber created the Second Chance Initiative, a community resource designed to help employers considering hiring ex offenders to learn more about business incentives such as federal bond insur ance and tax credits, as well as guidance on assess ing a criminal record. / / -v ? m T "jobiNet connects job candidates with employ ers seeking to hire qualified individuals to fill available positions, and the Chamber encour ages employers to give fair consideration to the formerly incarcerated for appropriate positions." In addition, the Second Chance Initiative helps those with criminal records get information about employment and/or train ing opportunities through local agencies, including Project Reentry, the Northwest ; Piedmont Workforce Development Board, Project SOAR and Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries. The Chamber also has A -a -Gayle Anderson expanded its JobNet data base to include positions, not just for experienced workers, but also for sea sonal jobs requiring no pre vious experience or train ing, as well as internships for students or those seek ing entryway into a com petitive field. JobNet connects job candidates with employers seeking to hire qualified individuals to fill available t positions, and the Chamber encourages employers to i give fair consideration to the formerly incarcerated for appropriate positions. From September 2014 to September 2015, 788 for merly incarcerated individ uals were released in Forsyth County. Most are looking for and needing jobs. Research has shown that a history of incarcera tion reduces a worker's chance of being hired by up to 30 percent. In 2010, the Center for Economic and Policy Research released a study, "Ex-Offenders and the Labor Market." The find ings were compelling. The study concluded that a felony conviction or imprisonment significantly reduced the ability of for merly incarcerated individ uals to find jobs, costing the U.S. economy up to an estimated $65 billion in lost economic output each year. In an effort to give fair consideration to everyone, some local and many national employers have voluntarily eliminated the question on their employ ment applications, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" Nationally, the movement to eliminate asking about convictions on an employment applica tion is known as "ban the box." It allows employers to consider a job candi date's qualifications first, without prior knowledge of a conviction record. By removing convic tion history from the initial job .application, it allows employers to view prospects objectively and on their own merits and gives prospects the oppor tunity to explain the cir cumstances of their crimi nal background as part of the interview process. It does not mean that the employer never asks about a conviction; merely that the question is asked later in the interview process. For companies that might consider doing so, the Chamber can be a resource to connect them with other organizations already adopting this practice that can provide them with practical advice and infor mation. While momentum for this policy has grown expo nentially across the country the past few years, it is understandably controver sial. Of course, criminal convictions will absolutely disqualify applicants from certain jobs?but prior convictions don't necessar ily have to disqualify the formerly incarcerated from all jobs. . Givine ex-offenders in our community a second chance for a fresh start and providing them with access to jobs could be one of the keys to unlocking the secret of a vibrant local economy. Gayle Anderson is president and CEO of the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. The MLK Holiday is over; What are the next steps? James B. Ewers Jr. Guest Columnist The parades, breakfasts and luncheons honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are now over. The speeches given by city, state and fed eral officials extolling Dr. King's non-violent philos ophy have all been given. Many of us participated in some type of community .service event which high lighted his mantra of help ing each other. Dr. King always reminded us that we are our brother's and sister's keeper. As we now pass the King Holiday and onto February, which is Black History Month, let us rededicate ourselves to some guiding principles. It is my opinion these guid ing principles which Dr. King talked about through out his life will serve as a launching pad of hope for us. First, let us understand and appreciate the impor tance of getting a good education. Dr. King was a man of letters which pre pared him for a life of serv ice. It is my view that every young person must partici pate in some form of edu cation and training after high school. There are three options for a high school graduate to consid er You must have college, ? t military service or a job with training on your radar screen. If you choose one of these three options, you will be well on your way to becoming successful. Each of these options will provide you with the opportunity and the flexi bility to become a produc tive citizen in the world. If you are undecided, talk to your counselor, mentor or friend about the choices. The most important part of this equation is that you choose one of the options. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed for us. It gives all of us the chance to elect the leaders of our country. The voting num bers in communities of color are not where they should be. If we want to see change in America then we must help to change America by voting. We cannot sit at home on Election Day and expect change to occur. Our votes will count if we exercise our right to vote. in the coming months, we will have a presidential election and we will have a ' choice to make. If you don't vote then you cannot complain about the out come. If you have not reg istered to vote, then go and register today. Take a friend with you so that they, too, can register. Civil Rights leaders like Dr. King, Fannie Lou Hamer, Flonzie Brown Wright, Andrew Young, John Lewis', Jesse Jackson and countless others worked tirelessly to get us the right, so now we must ?* not sit on the right but must act on the right to cast our ballot. If you ait in a posi tion to organize a voter .< registration drive then do so. You will become a dif ference-maker in your community. We have a moral man date to treat one another better. The words dignity and respect should be the rule in how we treat one another, not the exception. Dr. King said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in moments of chal lenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others. In dangerous val leys and hazardous path ways, he will lift some bruised and beaten brother to a higher and more noble lift." As black people, we must pledge in 2016 to stop the violence against ourselves. Let us become statistics of success, not statistics of sorrow. If you are a black man like me, our households need us. We have been absent and missing in action for too long. Let us vow in 2016 to be fathers and grandfathers to our children and grand children. They cannot have model behavior if they have no role models to emulate. If we want our commu nities to be better, then we must become better. Higher levels of self respect will get us the respect from others that we want. Our avenues and streets can no longer be . battlegrounds with us being afraid to come out side. Are we ready for 2016? Yes we are! It will take all of us doing our part and becoming transformational leaders. Some time ago, I read the book entitled," "The Servant Leader" by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. The sub title is, "Transforming your Heart, Head, Hands and Habits.". The authors write about Jesus Christ being a situa tional servant leader. He was the ultimate servant leader. Let us practice the habits of serving others, having humility and just being kind. These traits will help us in any situa tion. the year 2015 is in our rearview mirror and 2016 awaits us with eagerness and anticipation. Dr. King said, "This is no time for apathy and complacency. This is a time for vigorous and posi tive action." James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D. is a former tennis champion at Atkins High School. in Winston-Salem and played college tennis at Johnson C Smith University where he was all-conference for four years. He is the President Emeritus of The Teen Mentoring Committee of Ohio and a retired college administrator. He can be reached fl at ewers.jr56@yahoo.com.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 28, 2016, edition 1
7
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75