Ex-prisoners may return to society in need of serious support to restore their lives. The Returning Citizen Career & Wellness Fair aims to give people a fresh start.
NORFOLK, Va. — Thousands of people could be released from Virginia prisons this year, but criminal records make it difficult to get that chance.
Many formerly incarcerated individuals grapple with the pressing need to secure housing, employment, income, and access to health care. Legal restrictions and social prejudice limit their access to work, housing, and education.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said more than 95% of prison inmates return to their neighborhoods and communities, so it’s important to help inmates make a successful return.
“Our first goal is to make sure that you pay your debt to society and that this is a new chapter in your life and that if you want to be a productive citizen, you have the opportunity to do so. I think so,” Miyares said.
He also said Virginia has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country, but that number could be even lower.
Hoping to give people who have completed their sentences a true second chance, Mr. Miyares partnered with the Urban League of Hampton Roads and Revive Communities of Virginia to host the Returning Citizens Career Wellness Fair in Norfolk. ” is sponsored.
The event is being held in commemoration of Second Chance Month, a national initiative to raise awareness about the effects of criminal convictions and give formerly incarcerated people a chance for a new start.
“There is a need here. Newport News Shipbuilding and many other companies are seriously interested in finding workers. People who are currently re-entering society and are anxious to work. “There are,” Miyares said. “Then let’s gather them.”
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This is the first time the event has been held in Hampton Roads, after Miyares said similar fairs were successful in Richmond and Petersburg. Miyares said this is also consistent with the Virginia Ceasefire Plan, which builds partnerships with local elected officials and law enforcement to address violent criminal activity by felons and repeat offenders.
Gil Brand, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Urban League, said the initiative is consistent with his organization’s work and mission.
“For the Urban League, employment is one of our four pillars, along with education, health and housing,” Brand said.
He also connected the dots between one of those pillars: education and incarceration.
“Unfortunately, once our young children reach third grade, their ability to read or not read will help determine how many prisons we need to build in the future.” Mr. Brand said. “Because the assumption is that if you can’t read, you’re going to drop out eventually. And if you drop out, statistics show that 70 percent of dropouts end up in prison.” Masu.”
With this in mind, Brand said he is excited that the fair will connect returning nationals with more than 20 employers offering on-site interviews and career exploration. He said there will also be organizations and state agencies that will provide things like medical services and housing resources to help them rebuild their lives.
“Our region and its economy [need] It put our employees in the worst possible situation,” Brand said. [it’s] There are benefits for both returning citizens. It’s an opportunity to re-establish yourself in the workforce and rebuild your credit history. ”
Revive Communities of Virginia will provide resources for its Feed the City program at the fair.
“Revive’s mission, simply put, is to remove the barriers that prevent our communities from living fulfilling lives,” said B., President and CEO of Revive and founding pastor of Calvary Revival Church. said Dr. Courtney McBath in a statement. “Virginia releases hundreds of thousands of incarcerated people each year, and each one of them deserves to earn a living wage once they return to society.”
Business owner and motivational speaker Azeem Majeed said such reinforcements are essential for ex-offenders to move forward. Majeed spent 26 years in prison and he said he believes one of the biggest fears of prisoners is not having the means to support themselves upon release.
Majeed believes the support and guidance he received after serving time helped him get back on his feet.
“I connected myself with all the organizations that I felt could provide me with some kind of resources and things like that and put me in a position where I could evolve into a better version of myself.” Majeed said.
He said returnees have unique skill sets and need opportunities to show businesses and communities what they can bring to the table.
“I would encourage people to really trust that we are valuable and that we have something valuable to bring to your organization,” Majeed said.
The “Returning Citizen Career and Wellness Fair” will be held on Saturday, April 13th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Calvary Revival Church, 5833 Poplar Hall Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502.
The fair is free and open to the public. You can pre-register here.
