HVCC Hosts Symposium on Removing Employment Barriers for Recently Incarcerated and Justice-Impacted Individuals
January 8, 2025
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Hudson Valley Community College’s Division of Workforce Development and Community Education partnered with several local colleges and organizations to host a free symposium to help educate local employers about hiring and working with recently incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals who are reentering the workforce.
The symposium, designed for human resources professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, and community-based organizations, included a panel discussion, presentations, and a re-entry simulation to allow participants to gain firsthand understanding of the challenges of navigating life on parole while adhering to the terms of release. Employers and training professionals who have worked with recently incarcerated individuals taught participants how to break down the barriers to employment for those re-entering the workforce after incarceration. Presentations were given by the NYS Department of Labor, the SUNY Office of Higher Education in Prison, and Cornell University’s Division of Industrial Labor Relations.
According to the US Chamber of Commerce, the United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Nearly 1.25 million Americans are incarcerated in the U.S. correctional system, with an additional 3.7 million on probation or on parole at any time. About half a million people are released from incarceration each year, which amounts to 79 million, or 1 in 3 Americans, who have reentered into societies and have a criminal record. Meanwhile, millions of jobs remain vacant, and millions of justice-impacted individuals are actively seeking employment. The symposium was designed to help bridge that gap.
“As a community college, Hudson Valley is committed to creating opportunity for all members of our community—not just traditional learners, but those who are part of underserved communities as well,” said Hudson Valley Community College Officer in Charge Louis Coplin, who gave opening remarks at the symposium. “Events like this one are important to help raise awareness and decrease the stigma faced by individuals re-entering the workforce after incarceration, ultimately connecting more hardworking candidates with jobs that employers need filled and benefitting all involved.”
NYS Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz was in attendance at the event and shared opening remarks with participants. Other speakers and panelists included representatives from New Choices Recovery and the Center for Law and Justice; Trent Griffin-Braaf, Success Map Initiative; Jodi Anderson, Cornell University School of Industrial Labor Relations; Tammar Cancer, Center for Community Alternatives; Lucinda Cross, Activate Your Life; Joel Jimenez, Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison; Julio Medina, Exodus Transitional Community; and Andre Ward, Jay College Institute for Justice & Opportunity.
This event was co-sponsored by Hudson Valley Community College, Columbia-Greene Community College, SUNY Adirondack, SUNY Schenectady, SUNY FMCC, Capital Region BOCES, Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES, and the Capital Region Workforce Development Board.