BRADENTON, FL – Goodwill Manasota and the Florida Department of Corrections are partnering on the “Second Chance Job Fair” on Wednesday, October 30, at Goodwill’s Corporate Campus (2705 51st Ave. E., Bradenton) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The event, while it is open to all job seekers, will focus on assisting members of the public who are currently on probation.
Attending employers are from fields including staffing companies, roofing, construction, auto repair, landscaping and lawn care, janitorial services, contractors, and more. All of these companies are second-chance workplaces that welcome applicants with criminal records. Additionally, at noon, a representative from Gulfcoast Legal Services will give a presentation about the requirements and process for getting a criminal record expunged.
One in three Americans has a criminal background. Approximately 700,000 inmates are released from state and federal prison each year. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics:
• Within three years of their release, about two-thirds of released prisoners are rearrested for a new crime.
• Within five years of release, about three-quarters of released prisoners are rearrested.
Numerous studies by experts in the field indicate that employment is an incredibly important factor in stabilizing someone’s life after release from prison. Yet somewhere between 60-75% of ex-offenders remain unemployed one year after their release from prison. Ex-offenders have a 27% unemployment rate (Prison Policy Initiative, “Out of Prison & Out of Work”).
“At Goodwill, we believe that anyone who wants to work and strive for a better future deserves the opportunity to do so,” said Goodwill Manasota vice president Margie Genter. “We find that the individuals with a criminal record that we’ve hired are extremely motivated to work – they are hardworking, reliable, and eager to get on the path to a stable, successful future. We are proud to help them get there.”
For more information about the job fair or Goodwill’s Job Connection program, contact the Job Connection office at (941) 355-2721, ext. 160.
About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With philanthropic donations and revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those with other barriers to employment by providing jobs, job skills training, and free career services. For more information or for a listing of locations, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.