Heartland Alliance’s Annual Dinner took place on Oct. 11, featuring two READI Chicago participants and Senior Director Eddie Bocanegra.
During the event’s cocktail hour, attendees browsed a photo gallery of participants of various Heartland Alliance programs, including a READI Chicago Austin participant working at his job at Freedman Seating. The event culminated in a panel discussion, moderated by President Evelyn Diaz, about reducing barriers to employment with Eddie, READI Chicago Englewood participant Mendai, and Mike Brady of Greyston Bakery.
Panelists shared personal stories about how access to opportunity has shaped their lives and discussed how both READI Chicago and Greyston are helping to remove barriers to employment for those who are marginalized, including people with criminal backgrounds.
Greyston employs an open hiring model, hiring anyone willing to work and forgoing a formal interview and background check. Greyston focuses on removing obstacles to job success by providing access to supports and services, a model which READI Chicago hopes to bring to Chicago.
Mendai said he was grateful to have the opportunity to build awareness and share his story, adding that he hopes his voice can help impact employers to reduce barriers to hiring justice-involved individuals.
“You don’t have to put somebody in a box,” Mendai said. “People can change and outgrow that box and outgrow the perceptions people have of them. It doesn’t have anything to do with background. It depends on one person giving them a chance.”
