Finding a job in a treacherous economic climate is a challenge in itself. Adding a rap sheet doesn’t help.

But for former convicts in suburban Cook County, a local group, along with state representatives, are stepping in to bring employers and employees together.

The third annual Opportunity Fair has a goal of helping individuals who have just gotten out of prison get acclimated back into society. Larry Shapiro, suburban coordinator for the fair, said the major challenge is not reaching out to ex-offenders as much as it is getting employers to hire people with records.

“The challenge is to get employers that will give them a second chance,” he said. “We encourage employers to at least talk to the individual and judge (them as) individuals.”

On the first day of the two-day fair, ex-offenders find services available to them. Between 40 and 50 social service providers attend the first day to help people deal with housing and mental or health problems and help assess their job readiness, Shapiro said.

Attending the first day is a requirement and every person in attendance will receive a ticket to come back for the second day, when employers will be interviewing.

“We want to give them paths, directions,” Shapiro said. “They need to be able to show them and us that they are willing to do what it takes.”

The event is open to anyone in the western Cook County suburbs. Every community is affected in some way when an ex-offender comes back into the area. The goal is to make sure they are comfortable when they return, Shapiro said.

“If we don’t do something, they will become a predator to their community and go back to jail,” Shapiro said. “It’s an overall benefit to the community to build bridges for hope and reality.”

Businessman’s Breakfast

The Businessman’s Breakfast was held Sept. 12 to educate employers on the benefits of hiring an ex-offender. U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., and state Rep. Karen Yarbrough, D-7th District, were in attendance and feel strongly about giving people second chances and helping get ex-offenders back into their communities and being productive.

Ex-offeners can go through all the efforts of getting cleaned up and job ready, but at the end of the day, if no employers will hire, the effort is for nothing, Davis said.

“Changing people’s minds about individuals is what our challenge is,” he said.

About 15 million people are ex-offenders who need to be back in the workforce, Davis said. Meeting society half-way is important, and when Davis visits prisons, he tells offenders that.

 “People aren’t just going to employ you,” he said. “You gotta be willing to meet society half-way.”

Safer Foundation

The Safer Foundation’s mission for more than 30 years has been to assist people with criminal records become employed or further their education.

Jodina Hicks, chief program officer at the foundation, said a site was opened in Maywood to provide services to the community when Yarbrough brought the issue into focus.

“When we looked at the need and the numbers of people coming back here, we knew it was a need,” Hicks said.

More than 1,000 clients have come to the foundation during the past three years and many have been placed in entry-level jobs. Hicks said employers who give men and women another chance find out they can be some of the best workers they will employ.

“It is our clients who are job ready, are the most loyal, hardworking and dedicated clients you will find for your workforce,” Hicks said.

A second chance

Alexander Romero of Berwyn said after he got out of jail, a friend told him about Safer Foundation.

“They helped me a great deal because when I got out of the county (jail), I had nothing — no transportation, no means of communication,” Romero said.

When Romero called the organization, he was introduced to Marc Burton, who became his counselor and helped him find job leads and went with him to appointments. After a couple of months working with the organization, Romero was hired at Suncast in Batavia.

“It is worthwhile,” Romero said. “All you got to do is work with them and they will work with you too. They will get you the job; you just got to hang in there.”

Romero worked there for about four months until he moved to a different company closer to his home in Berwyn.

Currently, Romero is enrolled in the Illinois Manufacturing Foundation program to receive his certificate in machinery.

“Since I am in school right now, I am getting job training and stuff right now,” Romero said. “(Marc) is still working with me.”

Romero said because of the foundation, he got right on track. A year later, he is still working with them.

“I am thankful that I got in touch with Safer Foundation and Marc,” Romero said. “It was like a different, positive experience.”

Derow Young of Maywood was invited to speak at the Businessman’s Breakfast about how being given a second chance saved his life and got him on the right track. He was there as an example to show employers that ex-offenders need to be looked at for who they are and that they can potentially be the best employees they will ever hire.

Young said he got involved with the foundation when he got out of jail.

“When I came home I knew, I didn’t want to go to jail. I didn’t know what I was doing or where I was going,” Young said.

The organization helped him when he was released and still helps him. Young said he calls the foundation before he makes any decisions and gets “permission” before doing anything — the foundation lets him know whether the decision is right or wrong.

Young said he considers the organization like his family.

“There is no ending for me; I am just moving forward,” Young said. “I just constantly keep going and thank everyone who took part in hiring. It is not all about money — you will have a best friend, closer than a dog.”