BOSS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workplace. We believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and former incarceration should not stop anyone from stabilizing and enhancing their life. With that being said, we encourage you to apply for a position at BOSS from our website!
In March 2021, the White House proclaimed April as National Second Chance Month.
We must remove these barriers. Every person leaving incarceration should have housing, the opportunity at a decent job, and health care. A person’s conviction history should not unfairly exclude them from employment, occupational licenses, access to credit, public benefits, or the right to vote. Certain criminal records should be expunged and sealed so people can overcome their past.
Within BOSS, staff has been committed to developing new solutions that engage justice-involved individuals in justice reform and other social change.
By focusing on prevention, reentry, and social support, rather than incarceration, we can ensure that America is a land of second chances and opportunity for all people.
According to NCSL, 77 million people - 1 out of 3 adults in the country - have a criminal record. The unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is 27 percent, which exceeds the pace during the Great Depression. Our criminal justice system must be reformed, so people have the opportunity to rejoin the community and rebuild their lives once they have served their time.
The California Fair Chance Act (AB1008) is a bill stating that a criminal record should never be viewed as an automatic disqualification for employment.
BOSS’ Career Training and Employment Center (CTEC), established in 2014, has relationships with second-chance employers throughout the Bay Area who hire justice-involved individuals, welcoming applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their background.
If you are an employer who is interested in supporting someone ready to work and seeking a second chance, please get in touch with Arion Chapman, CTEC Coordinator, at achapman@self-sufficiency.org.
One of the most exciting is the Social Justice Collective (SJC) Fellowship, which provides a 20-week series designed to educate, inspire, and train new leaders at Neighborhood Impact Hubs.
The future leaders learn the history of social justice movements, specific political education, cultural awareness, restorative justice principles, and organizing tactics.
Partners include ACLU Northern California, All of Us or None, Black Women Organized for Political Action, Californians for Safety and Justice, Community and Youth Outreach, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Impact Justice, League of Women Voters Oakland, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, Root & Rebound. Moreover, Time Done’s Delegate provides community-based reentry programs in the State of California.
For questions or more information on the SJC, contact Executive Director Donald Frazier at dfrazier@self-sufficiency.org.
To make a difference as part of the BOSS Team, please contact hrjobs@self-sufficiency.org or check for available jobs by clicking here.
Full Proclamation can be found here > https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/31/a-proclamation-on-second-chance-month-2021/.