Finding a job after being incarcerated is difficult.
Indianapolis-based nonprofit 2nd Chance Indiana is hoping its new effort will make the process a little bit easier.
The organization recently launched a new website with information about thousands of employers across the state — all of which have made some commitment to hire people who have been formerly incarcerated.
The goal is to show people who’ve experienced incarceration that opportunities are available in their city.
“We’ve been in prisons, and talked to people who will say, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get out. Who’s going to hire me?’” said Jim Cotterill, president of 2nd Chance Indiana. “So if they get out and they find that there are thousands of employers who are open to offering a second chance, that’s one thing that’s really positive.”
The new site also includes information about apprenticeships, certifications and educational programs and support services.
How to use the site
Explore the board using this link. You can also find it on 2nd Chance Indiana’s homepage.
You will have to put in your first and last name and email address the first time you access the directory.
Once that information is entered, you’ll be able to look at the database.
To change the search result, go to “tags” and select between employers, apprenticeships, certifications, education and support services. Search by your ZIP code to find employers near you.
You can sort the board by distance, industry, ZIP code and type of organization, like a business, nonprofit or church.
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Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, at 317-759-0249 or on most social media @clairerafford.
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