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EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH FAIR CHANCE HIRING
Nov 01, 2024
Some insights and personal reflections from our Vermont Business Develpoment Manager, Carole Ricciuti, on the importance and interconnectedness of community and fair chance hiring.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small town in Vermont by the border. I saw first-hand a neighbor helping a neighbor. Our family did not have much but we were always willing to lend a hand to a neighbor in need. There have been times when I have leaned on my community to support me. My personal belief in the importance of community is a key part of what led me to my current role as the Business Development Manager at Working Fields, a purpose-driven staffing agency that connects engaged employers with resilient job seekers to foster a thriving community.
Some of the primary ways Working Fields empowers the community is through economic growth, reducing recidivism, and social integration. By enabling individuals to secure jobs, Working Fields reduces unemployment rates and boosts the local economy. Employment also plays a crucial role in lowering rates of recidivism leading to safer communities. Furthermore, fair chance hiring promotes inclusivity and helps individuals integrate into society and positively contribute to their communities. Working Fields not only empowers individuals but also enhances community well-being by fostering economic stability and social cohesion.
Recently, I have begun a new journey in my professional career joining the class of 2025 Leadership Champlain Program. Our first task was to take the Clifton Strengths Assessment. I learned from the results that I have a strong belief in community impact which aligns with Working Fields mission and values. I’m proud to share that in 2023, we supported 345 individuals with career opportunities. Of those 345, 49% had experienced housing insecurity, 53% identified as being in recovery from a substance use disorder, and 60% did not have a driver’s license. These numbers are a testament to Working Fields’ holistic, supportive employment model which includes personalized supports such as community resource connection and peer coaching.
If you are a community-minded employer that would like to learn more, please let me know. I would be happy to discuss both the community and employer benefits of fair chance hiring through Working Fields.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small town in Vermont by the border. I saw first-hand a neighbor helping a neighbor. Our family did not have much but we were always willing to lend a hand to a neighbor in need. There have been times when I have leaned on my community to support me. My personal belief in the importance of community is a key part of what led me to my current role as the Business Development Manager at Working Fields, a purpose-driven staffing agency that connects engaged employers with resilient job seekers to foster a thriving community.
Some of the primary ways Working Fields empowers the community is through economic growth, reducing recidivism, and social integration. By enabling individuals to secure jobs, Working Fields reduces unemployment rates and boosts the local economy. Employment also plays a crucial role in lowering rates of recidivism leading to safer communities. Furthermore, fair chance hiring promotes inclusivity and helps individuals integrate into society and positively contribute to their communities. Working Fields not only empowers individuals but also enhances community well-being by fostering economic stability and social cohesion.
Recently, I have begun a new journey in my professional career joining the class of 2025 Leadership Champlain Program. Our first task was to take the Clifton Strengths Assessment. I learned from the results that I have a strong belief in community impact which aligns with Working Fields mission and values. I’m proud to share that in 2023, we supported 345 individuals with career opportunities. Of those 345, 49% had experienced housing insecurity, 53% identified as being in recovery from a substance use disorder, and 60% did not have a driver’s license. These numbers are a testament to Working Fields’ holistic, supportive employment model which includes personalized supports such as community resource connection and peer coaching.
If you are a community-minded employer that would like to learn more, please let me know. I would be happy to discuss both the community and employer benefits of fair chance hiring through Working Fields.