On March 14th, 2024, Phoenix Odyssey hosted its first business consortium at the Pawtucket Country Club. More than 65 employers, legislative representatives, and Phoenix graduates attended and learned about fair chance hiring, the Phoenix Project prison reentry program, and how our pre-and post-release programs at the ACI demonstrate what successful reentry can do for Rhode Island communities, families, and workforce! We are grateful to Congressman Gabe Amo, Acting ACI Director Wayne Salisbury, Rep. Cherie Cruz, Andrew Cortes from Building Futures RI, RINLA, Terry Regan from Regan Heating and Air, and the remarkable graduates of Odyssey for attending. Included on our panel discussion were Mike Gamez from MG Enterprise Group and Odyssey, Tyson Ferrera from Omni and Odyssey, JT West with West Logistics and Odyssey, Kennedy Terrero (Certified Reentry Specialist/Peer Navigator and Odyssey), Vennecia Kingston from Eagle Eye Construction, Brandy Diaz (Certifed Reentry Specialist/Peer Navigator and Odyssey), and Steven Parkhurst from Freedom Reads.
We discussed the benefits of Fair Chance Hiring, which include up to $6000 in tax credit for employers who hire justice-involved employees, $5000 bonds for justice-involved employees. Employers also come out with an employee who is 30% more likely to remain on the job with demonstrated loyalty and commitment to success. By listening to and meeting employers who may have had reservations about hiring justice-involved people, we were able to open the doors between employers and Odyssey members to strengthen our communities and create a solid workforce in RI. We are committed to building solid commitment to enhance hiring practices and support folks who are striving to come home and build safer communities.
