By Donna Miller, Site Manager
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Office of Reentry (OOR) hosted three regional Second Chance Month celebrations and community resource fairs during the month of April in observance of National Second Chance Month. The three celebrations were scheduled for April 1 in Nashville, April 8 in Memphis, and April 22 in Knoxville. On April 1, during the live stream, Governor Bill Lee, Representative Harold M. Love, Jr., and entrepreneur Robert Sherrill, were among the featured speakers at the celebration. WestCare Tennessee staff participated in the Tennessee OOR Resource and Hiring Fair on Friday, April 22 at Knoxville American Job Center from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This fair was geared for justice-involved individuals and members of the community who are looking for employment and community support. It brought together representatives from community-based non-profits to help justice-involved individuals successfully transition back into communities across Tennessee.
About National Second Chance Month:
Second Chance Month, established and observed in the United States during April since 2014, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction and unlock second-chance opportunities for justice-involved individuals who are returning to their communities. In America, 95% of the nearly 2 million people incarcerated will be released at some point and will return to our communities as our colleagues, neighbors, and co-workers.
