Good afternoon everyone!
The NYS OWDS team is interested in knowing how you have approached employers in your areas. I have been invited to talk to various employer groups, and they appear to be interested. We also conducted a busisness breakfast about 18 months ago, over 50 employers attended and the PO's that were involved have been able to use these employers very successfully. I know that we can probabaly tap into the Business Advisory Board affiliated with our One Stops throughout NYS, but the challange is trying to market our ex-felon job seekers to employers who historiclly have concerns about this population. We are also trying to coordinate a Job Fair to take place Spring 2008 for offenders. Matt Charton from our team has a group of about 10 employers that he deals with in the Albany NY area. Those employers would be our "core group."
Also, if we are able to coordinate a job fair, we were wondering what to name it??? The words "Reentry" and/or "Ex-offenders" might be a turn off to employers who participate. Many employers, esepcailly those in the service sector, such as major hotels, have told us that they do not want their name affiliated with this population, eventhough they do hire them farily consistently. They don't want any PR damage......so any ideas on the above subjects would be greatly appreciated. Thanks