Building a D.C. Labor Force that Works: Exploring Opportunities for Second Chance Hiring
Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026 | 8:30-10:30 a.m. ET
Many companies in the Washington D.C. metro area are struggling to recruit and retain top talent. Finding the right workers can be a challenge in any industry, particularly with the unique nature of the DMV workforce.
Faced with these challenges, some D.C.-area employers are turning to Second Chance Hiring — the practice of hiring job seekers who’ve been involved in the justice system — to fill critical roles. While these candidates are often screened out of traditional hiring processes due to old or irrelevant criminal records, employers who hire them consistently find they bring valuable skills, reliability, and potential.
Join the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) and the Council for Court Excellence (CCE) for a conversation on how to expand this talent solution at “Building a D.C. Labor Force that Works: Exploring Opportunities for Second Chance Hiring.” Together, we’ll hear from local business leaders about why they invest in Second Chance Hiring and how other employers can follow suit to foster a hardworking and loyal workforce in any industry.
What you’ll learn:
How businesses from highly regulated industries tap into justice-impacted talent
Why Second Chance Hiring is a smart and scalable recruitment strategy
The potential challenges with Second Chance Hiring — and how they can be mitigated
How to work with local community-based organizations to identify top talent
Meet Our Co-Host
Council for Court Excellence
The Council for Court Excellence (CCE) brings people together to conduct research, educate, and advocate to make D.C.’s unique legal systems more just, equitable, and accountable to the community. They also lead the Second Chance Hiring Alliance (SCHA), a cross-sector coalition that empowers D.C.-area employers to hire justice-impacted job seekers.