December In-Person Systemwide Gathering
scaleLIT, as the One-Stop Operator (OSO) serving The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership network, hosts quarterly convenings to share American Job Center (AJC) updates, relevant campaigns, funding opportunities, etc.
In September 2024, OSO invited panelists to discuss efforts across the public workforce system relating to the historic Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) at the American Job Center (AJC) at the King Center.
On December 12, 2024, scaleLIT hosted an in-person Systemwide Gathering at Prarie State College, featuring a panel of organizations working with system-impacted* individuals.
This quarter’s gathering was scaleLIT’s second in-person OSO convening. This panel was incredibly engaging, and our audience of workforce practitioners enjoyed learning from experts and receiving timely updates about OSO initiatives.
During the panel discussion, we heard about efforts to avoid using the term "justice-impacted" when speaking about individuals previously incarcerated and reentering the workforce system. This blog will refer to this community as system-impacted.
This shift in narrative and terminology places less emphasis on incarceration and encompasses any individuals, families, or communities that interact with the legal system. Using system-impacted when referring to this community, we represent any individual the legal system has personally, economically, or indirectly impacted.
As service providers, we must use humanizing language when speaking to and about our community. When referring to our learners or writing stories or grants about our customers, we need to meet people where they are currently and talk about them as people with rich lives and goals rather than defining them by their background or circumstances. That goes beyond system-impacted communities and can apply to individuals navigating any obstacles that might make their path more challenging; we are here to support them on their journey, and the language we use should reflect that commitment.
scaleLIT began with updates from the OSO team and introduced the audience to the Career Pathways Navigators, who will be more active in networkwide service integration in 2025. Click here to download the presentation and review the updates shared.
For the December Cross-Training Spotlight, scaleLIT chose to showcase partners with expertise in Working with System Impacted Individuals and invited organizations committed to supporting these communities:
Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice, represented by Avalon Betts-Gaston, Executive Director
Safer Foundation, represented by Durant Freeman, Program Manager
Howard and Evanston Community Center: Metropolitan Family Services, represented by Jordan Coley and Charles Hardwick
The Working with System Impacted Individuals Panel, from left to right: Avalon Betts-Gaston, Jordan Coley, Charles Hardwick, Durant Freeman, and Kylin Decker
Kylin Decker, Program Director for Employer-led Workforce Solutions from The Chicago Community Trust, graciously moderated this panel. The main objective of the discussion was to share the unique needs and experiences of people impacted by the criminal legal system and understand best practices for serving this population.
Kylin and our gracious panelists covered the following topics and offered takeaways to the audience:
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The trauma associated with experiences in and around the legal system impacts the individual who may become a new learner, job seeker, or customer in your program and their support system. The adverse effects of these experiences change how that individual navigates the world and how their family, friends, loved ones, and community navigate it.
Important Tips:
Promote timely trauma-informed professional development for staff who are interacting with your community.
Participants may not volunteer their past experiences of trauma with practitioners. Treat participants of all backgrounds respectfully and recognize that trauma impacts individuals differently.
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When working with system-impacted individuals, we must meet them where they are and actively avoid mirroring the rigid, unwelcoming space they just experienced.
Important Tips:
Set clear expectations around the service your organization can provide.
Be prepared to refer folks to partner organizations that can help meet their needs if your organization cannot.
Come to a mutual agreement on your participants' expectations (e.g., showing up on time and listening to each other). Make sure your participants understand that your goal is to help them succeed.
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Workforce programs serving system-impacted individuals should emphasize hard skills. Soft skills are essential and should be developed, but hard skills are what will lead to employment.
Important Tips:
Prioritize certifications—proof of hard skills or competency will often benefit system-impacted individuals more than resume writing workshops.
Digital Literacy is an important life skill required to complete most jobs. The importance of digital literacy training cannot be overstated: it is crucial when helping system-impacted individuals enter the workforce or change career paths.
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Building trust and rapport with your employer partners is essential. Once you identify which employers will hire system-impacted individuals, it is important not to categorize them as your go-to employer partner for this population. Do not pigeonhole an employer, and don’t limit the options for your system-impacted talent.
Important Tip:
Provide data! System-impacted individuals are less likely to be late, steal, or unreliable. Do not allow your staff or employer partners to perpetuate this myth.
Charles Hardwick shared a valuable lesson learned when working with system-impacted folks, and the power of first impressions:
When participants arrived for testing, the staff was eager to assess their potential and capabilities. One participant, however, stood out for reasons that initially caused some concern. They seemed withdrawn, distant, and uninterested in the process. Their lack of engagement made some question whether they would be a good fit for the program.
Yet, when the results came in, it became clear that this participant was testing exceptionally well. Despite their outward behavior, they proved to be highly successful in the program, exceeding expectations and demonstrating strong potential for the future.
As time passed, the staff took time to reflect on their initial impression of this participant. What had seemed like disengagement at first was now understood in a new light. Through careful consideration, they concluded that this behavior was not necessarily a sign of a lack of interest or ability. Instead, it was a coping mechanism to ensure safety and protection, especially in a legal environment where people could not trust one another, and vulnerability was a sign of weakness. This behavior often signals strength and preserved safety when navigating the legal system, but it was read as disengagement or apathy in the classroom.
Had the staff-written off this participant based solely on first impressions, assuming they wouldn't succeed, they would have made a grave mistake. Doing so would have done a disservice to the learner, preventing them from reaching their potential and succeeding in the program. Moreover, had the participant been met with harsh feedback or criticism—feedback that would’ve mirrored the punitive and often hostile systems they had recently exited—they likely would have felt unsafe, discouraged, and unwilling to continue.
Instead, by offering a supportive and understanding environment, the staff allowed the participant to feel secure enough to pursue their career goals without fear of judgment. In the end, the participant not only succeeded but thrived, a testament to the importance of seeing beyond initial impressions and creating a space where all participants, including those impacted by this system, can feel valued and empowered.
We are very grateful to our panelists and moderators for sharing their thoughts with our network. We’d like to thank the 50+ partners who engaged with our panelists and remain committed to improving service delivery and customer experience for all our community members.
