[Music] four years ago how was manager at a
four years ago how was manager at a
four years ago how was manager at a staffing and recruiting firm in central
staffing and recruiting firm in central
staffing and recruiting firm in central Iowa the job opened up my eyes to the
Iowa the job opened up my eyes to the
Iowa the job opened up my eyes to the realities of our workforce but the most
realities of our workforce but the most
realities of our workforce but the most profound lessons I learned there were
profound lessons I learned there were
profound lessons I learned there were lessons about human nature about our
lessons about human nature about our
lessons about human nature about our prejudices and about our inability to
prejudices and about our inability to
prejudices and about our inability to escape our biases in fact those lessons
escape our biases in fact those lessons
escape our biases in fact those lessons were so profound they would eventually
were so profound they would eventually
were so profound they would eventually alter the direction of my life now our
alter the direction of my life now our
alter the direction of my life now our job was putting people to work and one
job was putting people to work and one
job was putting people to work and one of the things I did not have was a whole
of the things I did not have was a whole
of the things I did not have was a whole lot of empathy for people who remained
lot of empathy for people who remained
lot of empathy for people who remained on the sidelines in my view individuals
on the sidelines in my view individuals
on the sidelines in my view individuals who were chronically unemployed were
who were chronically unemployed were
who were chronically unemployed were lazy and unmotivated after all there
lazy and unmotivated after all there
lazy and unmotivated after all there were plenty of jobs out there they
were plenty of jobs out there they
were plenty of jobs out there they should go and work them but slowly I
should go and work them but slowly I
should go and work them but slowly I began to meet individuals who would
began to meet individuals who would
began to meet individuals who would challenge those presuppositions I met
challenge those presuppositions I met
challenge those presuppositions I met people who had barriers to employment in
people who had barriers to employment in
people who had barriers to employment in some cases they were individuals who had
some cases they were individuals who had
some cases they were individuals who had prior criminal convictions yet it was
prior criminal convictions yet it was
prior criminal convictions yet it was evident that they were trying to put
evident that they were trying to put
evident that they were trying to put their life on a new trajectory trying to
their life on a new trajectory trying to
their life on a new trajectory trying to turn things around in other cases I met
turn things around in other cases I met
turn things around in other cases I met individuals who were dealing with
individuals who were dealing with
individuals who were dealing with disabilities some physical some mental
disabilities some physical some mental
disabilities some physical some mental and yet it was evident that with a
and yet it was evident that with a
and yet it was evident that with a little bit of modest accumulation these
little bit of modest accumulation these
little bit of modest accumulation these people can make a remarkable
people can make a remarkable
people can make a remarkable contribution in the workforce but what I
contribution in the workforce but what I
contribution in the workforce but what I saw again and again was these job
saw again and again was these job
saw again and again was these job seekers were rejected by employers
seekers were rejected by employers
seekers were rejected by employers without consideration because they were
without consideration because they were
without consideration because they were simply assumed to be unsuitable
simply assumed to be unsuitable
simply assumed to be unsuitable candidates and I guess the thing that
candidates and I guess the thing that
candidates and I guess the thing that troubled me most was the paradox that
troubled me most was the paradox that
troubled me most was the paradox that employers tended to complain about their
employers tended to complain about their
employers tended to complain about their inability to find motivated candidates
inability to find motivated candidates
inability to find motivated candidates and yet by their very actions by their
and yet by their very actions by their
and yet by their very actions by their very limited willingness to screen
very limited willingness to screen
very limited willingness to screen candidates they were rejecting and
candidates they were rejecting and
candidates they were rejecting and exiling these highly motivated job
exiling these highly motivated job
exiling these highly motivated job seekers from the workforce so it really
seekers from the workforce so it really
seekers from the workforce so it really troubled me and I saw a lot of people
troubled me and I saw a lot of people
troubled me and I saw a lot of people like that who were cast aside people
like that who were cast aside people
like that who were cast aside people like Rudy Rudy stopped by our office one
like Rudy Rudy stopped by our office one
like Rudy Rudy stopped by our office one day he was recently released from prison
day he was recently released from prison
day he was recently released from prison and
and
and he had a wonderful winning attitude and
he had a wonderful winning attitude and
he had a wonderful winning attitude and a cheerfulness about him and yet he did
a cheerfulness about him and yet he did
a cheerfulness about him and yet he did have a sadness when it came to his past
have a sadness when it came to his past
have a sadness when it came to his past you see because of Rudy’s background he
you see because of Rudy’s background he
you see because of Rudy’s background he had really struggled finding work and in
had really struggled finding work and in
had really struggled finding work and in fact he’d been searching for weeks for
fact he’d been searching for weeks for
fact he’d been searching for weeks for employment and yet everywhere he turned
employment and yet everywhere he turned
employment and yet everywhere he turned employers could see only his felony
employers could see only his felony
employers could see only his felony conviction by the time he arrived in our
conviction by the time he arrived in our
conviction by the time he arrived in our office I was sensing that his hope was
office I was sensing that his hope was
office I was sensing that his hope was beginning to fade now I was really
beginning to fade now I was really
beginning to fade now I was really convinced of his sincerity so it was
convinced of his sincerity so it was
convinced of his sincerity so it was important to me to try to help I was
important to me to try to help I was
important to me to try to help I was eager to help Rudy find a new job and
eager to help Rudy find a new job and
eager to help Rudy find a new job and get on track with his life so I jumped
get on track with his life so I jumped
get on track with his life so I jumped in got on the phone began calling a lot
in got on the phone began calling a lot
in got on the phone began calling a lot of clients and colleagues but everywhere
of clients and colleagues but everywhere
of clients and colleagues but everywhere I turned I hit the same wall the felony
I turned I hit the same wall the felony
I turned I hit the same wall the felony conviction was disqualifying when I had
conviction was disqualifying when I had
conviction was disqualifying when I had finally exhausted all my options i sat
finally exhausted all my options i sat
finally exhausted all my options i sat down with Rudy and I gave him the bad
down with Rudy and I gave him the bad
down with Rudy and I gave him the bad news and I’ll never forget his response
news and I’ll never forget his response
news and I’ll never forget his response he looked at me and he said it’s okay I
he looked at me and he said it’s okay I
he looked at me and he said it’s okay I know I’ve lost everything and I’ll never
know I’ve lost everything and I’ll never
know I’ve lost everything and I’ll never get it back I can still see Rudy walking
get it back I can still see Rudy walking
get it back I can still see Rudy walking out our door carrying his past like a
out our door carrying his past like a
out our door carrying his past like a ball and chain I began to get
ball and chain I began to get
ball and chain I began to get increasingly haunted by the individuals
increasingly haunted by the individuals
increasingly haunted by the individuals that we weren’t able to help you know I
that we weren’t able to help you know I
that we weren’t able to help you know I didn’t fall to the employers for their
didn’t fall to the employers for their
didn’t fall to the employers for their caution because after all is a hiring
caution because after all is a hiring
caution because after all is a hiring manager my own life experience had
manager my own life experience had
manager my own life experience had taught me that the best predictor of
taught me that the best predictor of
taught me that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior and yet
future behavior is past behavior and yet
future behavior is past behavior and yet the unwillingness of employers to have a
the unwillingness of employers to have a
the unwillingness of employers to have a look at these people on a case by case
look at these people on a case by case
look at these people on a case by case basis was not only robbing these
basis was not only robbing these
basis was not only robbing these individuals of an opportunity to rebuild
individuals of an opportunity to rebuild
individuals of an opportunity to rebuild their lives on the foundation of a good
their lives on the foundation of a good
their lives on the foundation of a good job it was also robbing these employers
job it was also robbing these employers
job it was also robbing these employers of some great candidates that were
of some great candidates that were
of some great candidates that were getting away from them so in my mind’s
getting away from them so in my mind’s
getting away from them so in my mind’s eye it seemed that the gap between this
eye it seemed that the gap between this
eye it seemed that the gap between this great untapped work force and the
great untapped work force and the
great untapped work force and the employer community grew wider and wider
employer community grew wider and wider
employer community grew wider and wider and I became fixated on the idea of
and I became fixated on the idea of
and I became fixated on the idea of bridging that gap the challenge was how
bridging that gap the challenge was how
bridging that gap the challenge was how do we persuade employers to reconsider
do we persuade employers to reconsider
do we persuade employers to reconsider their approach while I knew from
their approach while I knew from
their approach while I knew from personal experience that statistics
personal experience that statistics
personal experience that statistics don’t win hearts and minds but personal
don’t win hearts and minds but personal
don’t win hearts and minds but personal stories have that power so I began to
stories have that power so I began to
stories have that power so I began to wonder what if I could capture the
wonder what if I could capture the
wonder what if I could capture the personal stories of people who had
personal stories of people who had
personal stories of people who had successfully overcome their employment
successfully overcome their employment
successfully overcome their employment barriers and found success in the work
barriers and found success in the work
barriers and found success in the work flow
flow
flow and share these stories with employers
and share these stories with employers
and share these stories with employers with those employers change their hearts
with those employers change their hearts
with those employers change their hearts in the same way they change my heart
in the same way they change my heart
in the same way they change my heart would the story speak to other
would the story speak to other
would the story speak to other struggling jobseekers and give them hope
struggling jobseekers and give them hope
struggling jobseekers and give them hope and encouragement that perhaps there was
and encouragement that perhaps there was
and encouragement that perhaps there was a path a pathway out to success
a path a pathway out to success
a path a pathway out to success I began moonlighting to develop a
I began moonlighting to develop a
I began moonlighting to develop a nonprofit called america’s job honor
nonprofit called america’s job honor
nonprofit called america’s job honor Awards with the goal of celebrating
Awards with the goal of celebrating
Awards with the goal of celebrating individuals who overcome barriers to
individuals who overcome barriers to
individuals who overcome barriers to employment and the employers who hire
employment and the employers who hire
employment and the employers who hire them and before long what began as a
them and before long what began as a
them and before long what began as a moonlighting effort
moonlighting effort
moonlighting effort soon grew into the full-time personal
soon grew into the full-time personal
soon grew into the full-time personal passion of my life as the job honor
passion of my life as the job honor
passion of my life as the job honor Awards expanded into multiple states and
Awards expanded into multiple states and
Awards expanded into multiple states and now we’re working on expanding the
now we’re working on expanding the
now we’re working on expanding the nation and the stories that we encounter
nation and the stories that we encounter
nation and the stories that we encounter are amazing Henry Jordan is an
are amazing Henry Jordan is an
are amazing Henry Jordan is an individual who lives in inner-city
individual who lives in inner-city
individual who lives in inner-city Chicago and as he was growing up he got
Chicago and as he was growing up he got
Chicago and as he was growing up he got involved in the law from an early age
involved in the law from an early age
involved in the law from an early age like a lot of kids in his neighborhood
like a lot of kids in his neighborhood
like a lot of kids in his neighborhood and in his teens
and in his teens
and in his teens Henry joined a gang and soon he found
Henry joined a gang and soon he found
Henry joined a gang and soon he found himself getting in increased trouble he
himself getting in increased trouble he
himself getting in increased trouble he wound up doing half of his life in
wound up doing half of his life in
wound up doing half of his life in prison by the time he was 34 years old
prison by the time he was 34 years old
prison by the time he was 34 years old finally on his last stint in prison he
finally on his last stint in prison he
finally on his last stint in prison he was introduced to a job training program
was introduced to a job training program
was introduced to a job training program and that job training program introduced
and that job training program introduced
and that job training program introduced him to jobs in of all things the
him to jobs in of all things the
him to jobs in of all things the conservation field
conservation field
conservation field well Henry Jordan who had never touched
well Henry Jordan who had never touched
well Henry Jordan who had never touched a chainsaw in his life wound up planning
a chainsaw in his life wound up planning
a chainsaw in his life wound up planning and executing ecological restoration
and executing ecological restoration
and executing ecological restoration projects in the Chicagoland area and now
projects in the Chicagoland area and now
projects in the Chicagoland area and now he’s out of prison he has a wonderful
he’s out of prison he has a wonderful
he’s out of prison he has a wonderful career and he’s a volunteer he goes back
career and he’s a volunteer he goes back
career and he’s a volunteer he goes back to any mentors young kids in the same
to any mentors young kids in the same
to any mentors young kids in the same job training program that transformed
job training program that transformed
job training program that transformed his life Nancy Rodriguez from
his life Nancy Rodriguez from
his life Nancy Rodriguez from Minneapolis ran away from home at age 11
Minneapolis ran away from home at age 11
Minneapolis ran away from home at age 11 to escape increasingly brutal abuse from
to escape increasingly brutal abuse from
to escape increasingly brutal abuse from her mother’s boyfriend she lived on the
her mother’s boyfriend she lived on the
her mother’s boyfriend she lived on the streets and sold drugs and more often
streets and sold drugs and more often
streets and sold drugs and more often than not she slept in a baseball field
than not she slept in a baseball field
than not she slept in a baseball field dugout across the street from the school
dugout across the street from the school
dugout across the street from the school that she should have been attending not
that she should have been attending not
that she should have been attending not surprisingly she also ended up in prison
surprisingly she also ended up in prison
surprisingly she also ended up in prison and while in prison she was introduced
and while in prison she was introduced
and while in prison she was introduced by a job education program to the
by a job education program to the
by a job education program to the machining trade she immediately fell in
machining trade she immediately fell in
machining trade she immediately fell in love with the
love with the
love with the and now this young lady who never
and now this young lady who never
and now this young lady who never attended school past the fifth grade is
attended school past the fifth grade is
attended school past the fifth grade is an adjunct instructor at st. Paul
an adjunct instructor at st. Paul
an adjunct instructor at st. Paul college in machining she’s also an
college in machining she’s also an
college in machining she’s also an advocate for prison education education
advocate for prison education education
advocate for prison education education that she credits with finally giving her
that she credits with finally giving her
that she credits with finally giving her a life worth living
a life worth living
a life worth living Lee Toole was born with cerebral palsy
Lee Toole was born with cerebral palsy
Lee Toole was born with cerebral palsy you know Liam had a lot of struggles
you know Liam had a lot of struggles
you know Liam had a lot of struggles early in life in fact the doctors
early in life in fact the doctors
early in life in fact the doctors predicted that he would never attend
predicted that he would never attend
predicted that he would never attend school let alone live independently
school let alone live independently
school let alone live independently nevertheless Lee graduated from high
nevertheless Lee graduated from high
nevertheless Lee graduated from high school with honors and he later pursued
school with honors and he later pursued
school with honors and he later pursued and received a degree in criminal
and received a degree in criminal
and received a degree in criminal justice
justice
justice yet he struggled for months to try to
yet he struggled for months to try to
yet he struggled for months to try to convince employers to hire him but no
convince employers to hire him but no
convince employers to hire him but no employer could look back to look past
employer could look back to look past
employer could look back to look past the Walker and see the person so he
the Walker and see the person so he
the Walker and see the person so he languished until he finally got in touch
languished until he finally got in touch
languished until he finally got in touch with a local disability employment
with a local disability employment
with a local disability employment agency and that Disability Employment
agency and that Disability Employment
agency and that Disability Employment Agency introduced him to a contact
Agency introduced him to a contact
Agency introduced him to a contact center where he was hired and
center where he was hired and
center where he was hired and immediately rewarded for his exemplary
immediately rewarded for his exemplary
immediately rewarded for his exemplary performance you know one of the things
performance you know one of the things
performance you know one of the things Roy striking about Lee is here’s an
Roy striking about Lee is here’s an
Roy striking about Lee is here’s an individual who encountered more cruelty
individual who encountered more cruelty
individual who encountered more cruelty and more rejection in his life than most
and more rejection in his life than most
and more rejection in his life than most of us could ever imagine
of us could ever imagine
of us could ever imagine and yet his co-workers consistently
and yet his co-workers consistently
and yet his co-workers consistently described him as one of the most
described him as one of the most
described him as one of the most gracious and kind-hearted human beings
gracious and kind-hearted human beings
gracious and kind-hearted human beings they’ve ever met in their lives here’s a
they’ve ever met in their lives here’s a
they’ve ever met in their lives here’s a picture of Lee and his dad at the awards
picture of Lee and his dad at the awards
picture of Lee and his dad at the awards ceremony this was wildly ornery video
ceremony this was wildly ornery video
ceremony this was wildly ornery video was being played for the audience we
was being played for the audience we
was being played for the audience we celebrate a new kind of hero our
celebrate a new kind of hero our
celebrate a new kind of hero our honorees of people of all races and
honorees of people of all races and
honorees of people of all races and ethnicities they are veterans they are
ethnicities they are veterans they are
ethnicities they are veterans they are immigrants and refugees they’re male and
immigrants and refugees they’re male and
immigrants and refugees they’re male and female there are people from the cities
female there are people from the cities
female there are people from the cities people from the country people of all
people from the country people of all
people from the country people of all ages yet they have something in common
ages yet they have something in common
ages yet they have something in common they’ve overcome tremendous obstacles to
they’ve overcome tremendous obstacles to
they’ve overcome tremendous obstacles to find success in the workforce and their
find success in the workforce and their
find success in the workforce and their stories are very moving and inspiring
stories are very moving and inspiring
stories are very moving and inspiring but we recognize that employers exist to
but we recognize that employers exist to
but we recognize that employers exist to earn money so in addition to making the
earn money so in addition to making the
earn money so in addition to making the moral arguments for hiring these
moral arguments for hiring these
moral arguments for hiring these individuals it’s very important that we
individuals it’s very important that we
individuals it’s very important that we also make a calculated business case
also make a calculated business case
also make a calculated business case well the good news is we can make that
well the good news is we can make that
well the good news is we can make that case solidly there are a number of
case solidly there are a number of
case solidly there are a number of different ways in which employers who
different ways in which employers who
different ways in which employers who embrace fair chance hiring benefit and
embrace fair chance hiring benefit and
embrace fair chance hiring benefit and we’ll just look at three reasons
we’ll just look at three reasons
we’ll just look at three reasons first of all they’re able to tap in to a
first of all they’re able to tap in to a
first of all they’re able to tap in to a supply an abundant supply of candidates
supply an abundant supply of candidates
supply an abundant supply of candidates who are highly qualified now that’s
who are highly qualified now that’s
who are highly qualified now that’s especially meaningful when you consider
especially meaningful when you consider
especially meaningful when you consider that we live in an age of a diminishing
that we live in an age of a diminishing
that we live in an age of a diminishing workforce every day in the United States
workforce every day in the United States
workforce every day in the United States 10,000 baby boomers are retiring and
10,000 baby boomers are retiring and
10,000 baby boomers are retiring and because of our low birth rates and
because of our low birth rates and
because of our low birth rates and because of our restrictive immigration
because of our restrictive immigration
because of our restrictive immigration policies a large number of these exiting
policies a large number of these exiting
policies a large number of these exiting baby boomers are not being replaced as a
baby boomers are not being replaced as a
baby boomers are not being replaced as a result of that companies across the
result of that companies across the
result of that companies across the nation are struggling to fill their open
nation are struggling to fill their open
nation are struggling to fill their open positions companies however that embrace
positions companies however that embrace
positions companies however that embrace this form of hiring they tap into
this form of hiring they tap into
this form of hiring they tap into overlooked talent pools and they are
overlooked talent pools and they are
overlooked talent pools and they are rewarded with pipelines of highly
rewarded with pipelines of highly
rewarded with pipelines of highly motivated job seekers secondly they are
motivated job seekers secondly they are
motivated job seekers secondly they are finding their some outstanding
finding their some outstanding
finding their some outstanding candidates you know one of the themes
candidates you know one of the themes
candidates you know one of the themes that tends to run through all of our
that tends to run through all of our
that tends to run through all of our honoree videos is this overwhelming
honoree videos is this overwhelming
honoree videos is this overwhelming gratitude and not entitlement people who
gratitude and not entitlement people who
gratitude and not entitlement people who have been through hell in their lives
have been through hell in their lives
have been through hell in their lives they acutely recognize the value of a
they acutely recognize the value of a
they acutely recognize the value of a job in their lives and in fact we tend
job in their lives and in fact we tend
job in their lives and in fact we tend to interview in interview the employers
to interview in interview the employers
to interview in interview the employers in all of our honor honoree videos and
in all of our honor honoree videos and
in all of our honor honoree videos and one thing that we consistently hear from
one thing that we consistently hear from
one thing that we consistently hear from the employers is this they say that
the employers is this they say that
the employers is this they say that people who overcome patterns of failure
people who overcome patterns of failure
people who overcome patterns of failure or challenges such as disability they
or challenges such as disability they
or challenges such as disability they demonstrate remarkable work ethic and
demonstrate remarkable work ethic and
demonstrate remarkable work ethic and loyalty on the job not despite their
loyalty on the job not despite their
loyalty on the job not despite their backgrounds but rather because of them
backgrounds but rather because of them
backgrounds but rather because of them number three companies that go down this
number three companies that go down this
number three companies that go down this road wind up winning market share and
road wind up winning market share and
road wind up winning market share and attracting greater talent to their
attracting greater talent to their
attracting greater talent to their organization as their public image is
organization as their public image is
organization as their public image is enhanced increasingly people want to do
enhanced increasingly people want to do
enhanced increasingly people want to do business with companies that demonstrate
business with companies that demonstrate
business with companies that demonstrate a good social conscience they want to
a good social conscience they want to
a good social conscience they want to buy goods and services from those
buy goods and services from those
buy goods and services from those companies and they want to work for them
companies and they want to work for them
companies and they want to work for them recently Kohn communications performed a
recently Kohn communications performed a
recently Kohn communications performed a study of consumer behavior that revealed
study of consumer behavior that revealed
study of consumer behavior that revealed that 89% of Americans will guide their
that 89% of Americans will guide their
that 89% of Americans will guide their purchase decisions based upon whether or
purchase decisions based upon whether or
purchase decisions based upon whether or not a company supports initiatives that
not a company supports initiatives that
not a company supports initiatives that they consider to be important and in
they consider to be important and in
they consider to be important and in fact 78% of Americans will leave their
fact 78% of Americans will leave their
fact 78% of Americans will leave their current job to go and work for such a
current job to go and work for such a
current job to go and work for such a company so clearly there’s much to be
company so clearly there’s much to be
company so clearly there’s much to be gained for those companies that wish to
gained for those companies that wish to
gained for those companies that wish to seize the high moral ground
seize the high moral ground
seize the high moral ground especially in an era of commoditization
especially in an era of commoditization
especially in an era of commoditization when it’s increasingly difficult to
when it’s increasingly difficult to
when it’s increasingly difficult to separate yourself from the competition
separate yourself from the competition
separate yourself from the competition these are some of the reasons there are
these are some of the reasons there are
these are some of the reasons there are many more there are tax advantages
many more there are tax advantages
many more there are tax advantages available to employers also there are
available to employers also there are
available to employers also there are free supports available especially for
free supports available especially for
free supports available especially for those companies that work with
those companies that work with
those companies that work with disability employment agencies often
disability employment agencies often
disability employment agencies often their supports in the form of job
their supports in the form of job
their supports in the form of job coaches that will come in and work with
coaches that will come in and work with
coaches that will come in and work with their clients for a few days a few weeks
their clients for a few days a few weeks
their clients for a few days a few weeks whatever is required those services cost
whatever is required those services cost
whatever is required those services cost that employer not a nickel now for those
that employer not a nickel now for those
that employer not a nickel now for those employers for whom all of these
employers for whom all of these
employers for whom all of these considerations are insufficient
considerations are insufficient
considerations are insufficient motivation to go down this road please
motivation to go down this road please
motivation to go down this road please believe me
believe me
believe me eventually mathematics will be
eventually mathematics will be
eventually mathematics will be sufficient motivation because in this
sufficient motivation because in this
sufficient motivation because in this country we have 90 million or I’m sorry
country we have 90 million or I’m sorry
country we have 90 million or I’m sorry 70 million adult Americans who have
70 million adult Americans who have
70 million adult Americans who have histories of arrests or criminal
histories of arrests or criminal
histories of arrests or criminal convictions 70 million our total
convictions 70 million our total
convictions 70 million our total population is about two hundred and
population is about two hundred and
population is about two hundred and thirty-eight million I believe so that’s
thirty-eight million I believe so that’s
thirty-eight million I believe so that’s a it’s at the same number of Americans
a it’s at the same number of Americans
a it’s at the same number of Americans as have four-year college degrees so
as have four-year college degrees so
as have four-year college degrees so obviously gone are the days when we can
obviously gone are the days when we can
obviously gone are the days when we can sentence these 70 million Americans with
sentence these 70 million Americans with
sentence these 70 million Americans with a life to lifetime of unemployment
a life to lifetime of unemployment
a life to lifetime of unemployment we need their work and similarly we can
we need their work and similarly we can
we need their work and similarly we can no longer overlook the significant
no longer overlook the significant
no longer overlook the significant abilities of 54 million Americans with
abilities of 54 million Americans with
abilities of 54 million Americans with disabilities
disabilities
disabilities the bottom line is this in a diminishing
the bottom line is this in a diminishing
the bottom line is this in a diminishing workforce we need all hands on deck and
workforce we need all hands on deck and
workforce we need all hands on deck and the benefit to our society will be
the benefit to our society will be
the benefit to our society will be significant by having all hands on deck
significant by having all hands on deck
significant by having all hands on deck you know first of all we will have the
you know first of all we will have the
you know first of all we will have the advantage of the goods and services that
advantage of the goods and services that
advantage of the goods and services that those individuals create will have the
those individuals create will have the
those individuals create will have the benefit of their purchasing power and
benefit of their purchasing power and
benefit of their purchasing power and tax dollars more and more employers will
tax dollars more and more employers will
tax dollars more and more employers will have a committed and engaged workforce
have a committed and engaged workforce
have a committed and engaged workforce and perhaps most importantly more of our
and perhaps most importantly more of our
and perhaps most importantly more of our fellow Americans will be able to
fellow Americans will be able to
fellow Americans will be able to participate in the American Dream and
participate in the American Dream and
participate in the American Dream and know the joy and the happiness that
know the joy and the happiness that
know the joy and the happiness that comes from that you know I’m happy to
comes from that you know I’m happy to
comes from that you know I’m happy to report that this issue transcends
report that this issue transcends
report that this issue transcends politics people on both sides of the
politics people on both sides of the
politics people on both sides of the aisle can get excited about the idea of
aisle can get excited about the idea of
aisle can get excited about the idea of more Americans participating in the
more Americans participating in the
more Americans participating in the American Dream in fact I often speak in
American Dream in fact I often speak in
American Dream in fact I often speak in prisons and you know there I meet
prisons and you know there I meet
prisons and you know there I meet hundreds of men and women who are trying
hundreds of men and women who are trying
hundreds of men and women who are trying to pick up the shattered pieces of their
to pick up the shattered pieces of their
to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and form them into something
lives and form them into something
lives and form them into something beautiful
beautiful
beautiful something meaningful and when I stand on
something meaningful and when I stand on
something meaningful and when I stand on those stages and look out into the
those stages and look out into the
those stages and look out into the audience I’m sometimes reminded of the
audience I’m sometimes reminded of the
audience I’m sometimes reminded of the words of President Garfield I would
words of President Garfield I would
words of President Garfield I would rather be with you and defeated than
rather be with you and defeated than
rather be with you and defeated than against you in victorious now I hope
against you in victorious now I hope
against you in victorious now I hope that more and more of our policymakers
that more and more of our policymakers
that more and more of our policymakers embrace that attitude change is coming
embrace that attitude change is coming
embrace that attitude change is coming there’s no question about that when you
there’s no question about that when you
there’s no question about that when you have companies as diverse as Koch
have companies as diverse as Koch
have companies as diverse as Koch Industries Starbucks Facebook and Target
Industries Starbucks Facebook and Target
Industries Starbucks Facebook and Target all of them seizing on fair chance
all of them seizing on fair chance
all of them seizing on fair chance hiring and doing wonderfully well with
hiring and doing wonderfully well with
hiring and doing wonderfully well with it
it
it you know it’s change is coming you’ve
you know it’s change is coming you’ve
you know it’s change is coming you’ve got companies like manpower group rising
got companies like manpower group rising
got companies like manpower group rising up on the world stage to advocate for
up on the world stage to advocate for
up on the world stage to advocate for hiring that’s inclusive and they’re
hiring that’s inclusive and they’re
hiring that’s inclusive and they’re basically vision casting for a world in
basically vision casting for a world in
basically vision casting for a world in which anybody who wants some job can
which anybody who wants some job can
which anybody who wants some job can have meaningful employment clearly we
have meaningful employment clearly we
have meaningful employment clearly we have a lot of corporations stepping up
have a lot of corporations stepping up
have a lot of corporations stepping up so change is happening but unfortunately
so change is happening but unfortunately
so change is happening but unfortunately much like with the civil rights movement
much like with the civil rights movement
much like with the civil rights movement the change will occur too slowly for
the change will occur too slowly for
the change will occur too slowly for many people there will be continually
many people there will be continually
many people there will be continually individuals with disabilities who will
individuals with disabilities who will
individuals with disabilities who will languish cut off from the workforce
languish cut off from the workforce
languish cut off from the workforce they’ll never know the joy the dignity
they’ll never know the joy the dignity
they’ll never know the joy the dignity the social connections that come from a
the social connections that come from a
the social connections that come from a good job men and women will continue to
good job men and women will continue to
good job men and women will continue to be released from prison filled with hope
be released from prison filled with hope
be released from prison filled with hope for a new life and yet they will
for a new life and yet they will
for a new life and yet they will discover that there’s only rejected by
discover that there’s only rejected by
discover that there’s only rejected by the workforce and essentially cast on
the workforce and essentially cast on
the workforce and essentially cast on the scrapheap of society there’s a lot
the scrapheap of society there’s a lot
the scrapheap of society there’s a lot to be said for hastening the process
to be said for hastening the process
to be said for hastening the process because these aren’t statistics these
because these aren’t statistics these
because these aren’t statistics these are human beings these are our brothers
are human beings these are our brothers
are human beings these are our brothers and sisters and the thing is a company
and sisters and the thing is a company
and sisters and the thing is a company can decide to be on the right side of
can decide to be on the right side of
can decide to be on the right side of history and they can decide it tomorrow
history and they can decide it tomorrow
history and they can decide it tomorrow and they probably will if people like
and they probably will if people like
and they probably will if people like you and I apply the pressure of
you and I apply the pressure of
you and I apply the pressure of consumers and demand accountability from
consumers and demand accountability from
consumers and demand accountability from those companies you know what’s at stake
those companies you know what’s at stake
those companies you know what’s at stake here is absolutely enormous once upon a
here is absolutely enormous once upon a
here is absolutely enormous once upon a time I honestly believed that every kid
time I honestly believed that every kid
time I honestly believed that every kid in America had an equal shot at economic
in America had an equal shot at economic
in America had an equal shot at economic success the last four years changed my
success the last four years changed my
success the last four years changed my opinion that was before I spent time in
opinion that was before I spent time in
opinion that was before I spent time in neighborhoods were three out of or two
neighborhoods were three out of or two
neighborhoods were three out of or two out of every three young boys will be
out of every three young boys will be
out of every three young boys will be either dead or in prison by age 18 it’s
either dead or in prison by age 18 it’s
either dead or in prison by age 18 it’s before I stood on a street corner where
before I stood on a street corner where
before I stood on a street corner where a 14-year old boy was going
a 14-year old boy was going
a 14-year old boy was going down his dying words witnessed by his
down his dying words witnessed by his
down his dying words witnessed by his big sister please don’t shoot me no more
big sister please don’t shoot me no more
big sister please don’t shoot me no more you already killed me the fact is pain
you already killed me the fact is pain
you already killed me the fact is pain and opportunity are not equally
and opportunity are not equally
and opportunity are not equally distributed in this country or anywhere
distributed in this country or anywhere
distributed in this country or anywhere else but we as a society can reach out
else but we as a society can reach out
else but we as a society can reach out and we can help create opportunity for
and we can help create opportunity for
and we can help create opportunity for those who were dealt in attrocious hand
those who were dealt in attrocious hand
those who were dealt in attrocious hand and at least when it’s within our power
and at least when it’s within our power
and at least when it’s within our power to do so we can welcome them into the
to do so we can welcome them into the
to do so we can welcome them into the work force so they can build a stake
work force so they can build a stake
work force so they can build a stake so they can improve their lives
so they can improve their lives
so they can improve their lives transforming their lives for both
transforming their lives for both
transforming their lives for both themselves and their children you know
themselves and their children you know
themselves and their children you know what’s at stake in this initiative is
what’s at stake in this initiative is
what’s at stake in this initiative is far more than a more robust workforce
far more than a more robust workforce
far more than a more robust workforce what’s at stake is more than a pipeline
what’s at stake is more than a pipeline
what’s at stake is more than a pipeline of new and fresh candidates what’s at
of new and fresh candidates what’s at
of new and fresh candidates what’s at stake here is the soul of our nation
stake here is the soul of our nation
stake here is the soul of our nation thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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