Minneapolis fair opens doors for the formerly incarcerated

More than 150 people gathered at the Minneapolis Central Library on Tuesday, April 14, for the Coming Home Re-entry Resource Fair. The event, organized by Twin Cities R!SE, a nonprofit that provides job readiness training to people facing racial and socioeconomic barriers, gave attendees the chance to connect with fair-chance employers, access legal and career support, take professional headshots and participate in workshops.

“Very often there are people coming out of incarceration with just insurmountable odds, and so how do we meet them and see them where they are and then walk alongside them with the resources and the encouragement, so that they can get employed and empowered,” said Emma Corrie, president of Twin Cities Rise.

‘Letting go of guilt and shame’

For many formerly incarcerated individuals, finding work after release is an uphill battle. Policies and hiring practices that screen out people with conviction histories create significant obstacles, and the numbers reflect it. In the U.S., formerly incarcerated people are five times more likely to face unemployment, according to the Vera Institute.

Those barriers were a central focus of Tuesday’s event, which opened with a discussion panel led by Nicole Pillow, a motivational speaker and client manager at Twin Cities R!SE. Pillow was joined by panelists Kelsey Weidell, Isaiah Goodman, Brett King and Andre Anderson, who each spoke candidly about navigating mental health, identity and life after incarceration.

Weidell reflected on the shame and embarrassment that can come with being turned away from a job because of a criminal record. “You just have to let go of that shame and guilt. You have to stand on who you were and move forward, and without talking about it, there is no moving forward,” she said.

Although legally free, formerly incarcerated individuals often face a range of ongoing restrictions during reentry, including limited access to certain spaces and requirements to obtain permission, such as formal passes, just to travel or take part in everyday activities.

“I think for me one of the most frustrating things was waiting for this big day to come, and finally I’m free, I can go do all these things I’ve been thinking about and planning for, and then they’re like, oh wait, you can’t,” said panelist Isaiah Goodman.

The panel emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and pressing forward through self-doubt. Panelist Brett King, who earned his degree while incarcerated and will receive his Master’s this summer, spoke about the power of channeling that energy into action.

“Oftentimes I think, well, what if I didn’t go to prison, or what if I would have taken a left instead of a right… how would my life have been? The way I can deal with that is to do something with my life now,” King said.

He continued: “I often think that reentry can really be the great equalizer, in that it gives us an opportunity, and when you have an opportunity to do something different, there are new accomplishments, new roles, new jobs and new things that start to take the spotlight.”

Taking a chance

The fair featured a wide range of fair-chance employers and community resources. Metro Transit, Mav City Restoration Inc. and Minnesota Recovery Connection were among the many organizations in attendance.

Better Futures Minnesota, an environment-based organization that provides workforce development and job opportunities to formerly incarcerated men, was also on hand. Jason Allen, interim president and CEO, stressed the importance of giving returning citizens a genuine second chance.

“They need the opportunity to be the authors of their own story. Where they’re at, based on their past, has no bearing on where they go, as long as they change their thinking and habits, and those are things they can learn whether it’s through an organization like Better Futures or an employer who’s willing to take a chance on these participants,” Allen said.

For attendee Richard Jones, the fair offered more than job leads. It was a chance to build meaningful connections. “I want to find different ways to utilize my mind as far as positive affirmations and a better mindset, and being around more people who are like-minded,” he said.

Fellow attendee Ryan echoed that sentiment. “I’m here basically to network and learn how to push through the adversities that people face and some of the struggles that come with coming out of prison,” he said.

For more information on Twin Cities R!SE, visit https://twincitiesrise.org/.