Denver Startup Week and the Latino Coalition for Community Leadership present an arts inspired conversation on fair chance hiring in Colorado with Motus Theater, and leaders in business, reentry, and public safety initiatives.

In this unprecedented fair chance event, Motus Theater JustUs monologist Juaquin Mobely shares his autobiographical monologue about the impact of a felony record on his employment opportunities. His story is co-read aloud on stage by Jason Mendelson, the former VC at Foundry in Boulder and the author of Venture Deals. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who has recently announced a 1.1 million fair chance hiring initiative, will host the event. Music from the famed a capella singing duo Spirit of Grace will be woven throughout the event. The performance will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Attorney General Weiser with business, reentry and public safety leaders. The discussion will focus on the case for fair chance hiring and how Coloradans can get involved. Panelists include: Ken Oliver the Executive Director of Checkr.org; Lucretia Murphy an associate vice president with Jobs for the Future; Polly Fields, advisor with NextChapter; Juaquin Mobley, Vice President of Community Works & Motus JustUs Project Strategist; and Jason Mendelson

Why Fair Chance?

An estimated 70 million people in the United States—nearly one in three adults—have a prior arrest or conviction record. And that criminal record can follow a person for decades, making them feel imprisoned long after they’ve served their time and paid their debt to society. Like all Americans, the formerly incarcerated need stable, long-term employment to gain a sense of financial security, support themselves and their families, and feel like a positive, contributing member of their communities. Gainful employment lowers recidivism rates and keeps people from re-entering the prison system. But having a criminal record presents a unique—and often demoralizing—set of employment challenges.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser recently announced the creation of the Colorado Fair Chance Hiring Initiative, a unique partnership between the Latino Coalition for Community Leadership (LCCL), the Colorado Department of Law, and the Colorado Department of Corrections that is focused on training employers in fair chance hiring and reducing recidivism through employment. Denver Startup Week is excited to present the inaugural event for this Initiative.