The WJA is designed to:

Gather peer-to-peer businesses to share their experiences and learnings.

Lift the public narrative that businesses are committed to creating inclusivity in the workplace, including advocating for systemic changes that remove barriers for justice-impacted individuals.

Ensure business advocacy is closely tied to the community’s needs via consultation and direct dialogue with members of the justice reform movement and those with lived experience of the justice system, thereby improving the effectiveness and value of business interventions.

Encourage sustained activity by businesses, rather than one-off statements.

Increase the number of businesses committed to removing workforce barriers for the formerly incarcerated through peer inspiration.

Create a space for like-minded businesses to connect and network.

Millions of talented people in the United States are sidelined from the workforce due to outdated hiring practices and poorly designed workforce policies. This includes the one in three U.S. adults who have some form of criminal record, opportunity youth (young people ages 16–24 disconnected from school or work and at heightened risk of justice system involvement), and veterans impacted by the justice system.

For many, even a minor conviction or an arrest record creates lifelong barriers to employment. These obstacles do not only limit individual opportunity — they also keep motivated, capable talent out of the workforce and deepen inequities across the economy. At a time when employers are navigating persistent labor shortages and talent gaps, the cost of exclusion is simply too high.

Businesses have uniquely influential voices in shaping public understanding and policy. Through their platforms, networks, and credibility with decision-makers, companies can help challenge outdated narratives about justice-impacted job seekers and drive reforms that expand access to opportunity while strengthening communities and the economy alike.

The WJA exists to translate this influence into meaningful, credible action.

We seek to maximize business impact in the justice space by making it easy for our WJA member companies to engage in strategic, timely, and practical actions. RBIJ sources, vets, and curates high impact opportunities, enabling WJA member companies to contribute to real change without expending disproportionate time or resources. Membership in the WJA allows companies to respond confidently to emerging opportunities, knowing that actions are carefully evaluated, strategically aligned, and informed by the priorities of the justice reform movement and impacted communities.

Through the WJA, companies also gain opportunities for joint action and peer learning. The WJA facilitates information sharing across member companies and builds a trusted network that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Not an obligation but an ask. Although there is no membership fee or financial commitment for joining WJA, RBIJ is a nonprofit organization, and we ask members to consider making a donation to support the activities of RBIJ and the WJA. We can work with you directly to determine the best way to structure such a donation to ensure it fits within your existing corporate giving strategy. In addition, you can make a donation directly through our website here.

No. The WJA is a group of individual companies who can make their own determinations about endorsements, activities, and campaigns. Opportunities will be brought to WJA members, but engagement will always be on an opt-in basis. We simply ask that you allow us to identify you as a WJA member for as long as you remain part of the Alliance.

You can withdraw your company membership at any time by notifying the RBIJ team.