Employment forum for formerly incarcerated individuals lands national award for Olympic College partner

West Sound Human Resources Management Association (WSHRMA) recently received national recognition for an employment forum organized in collaboration with Olympic College.

The Second Chance Employment Forum, held in April, was conceived and organized by Olympic College Vice President for Equity & Inclusion Cheryl Nuñez, with a goal of informing local employers about the benefits of reducing barriers to employment for individuals in our community who were formerly incarcerated. The event featured Washington state 23rd Legislative District Rep. Tara Simmons, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, Employment Security Department, WorkSource Washington, justice-impacted community members, and second chance employers.

In November, the Society for Human Resource Management recognized WSHRMA for its role in partnering with Olympic College on the event, bestowing its highest honor, the Pinnacle Award “Advancing the HR Profession.”

Monica Blackwood, CEO of West Sound Workforce, former Olympic College Foundation Board President, and President of WSHRMA praised the impact the collaboration had on the community.

“Olympic College is, at its heart, a community college focused on raising up all who are in our community,” she said. “We aimed to educate ourselves, our job seekers and our employers throughout the area about the talent found in those who have been justice-involved.”

In Washington state, 95% of those who are incarcerated return to the community. Roughly 50% of them are parents. Reducing barriers to successful reentry reduces recidivism, strengthens public safety, yields cost savings, and helps restore family and community ties. 

Nuñez is committed to strengthening Olympic College’s support of reentry pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals through professional development for college employees, partnerships with reentry-focused community-based organizations, support for the student led-reentry collective, and participation in the jail outreach team. Olympic College is in the process of hiring a Reentry Navigator to help formerly incarcerated community members access education, employment and other opportunity structures that are vital for successful reentry.

“As more and more partners come together to support this work, we are strengthening our community in a significant way,” Nuñez said. 

To learn more, visit the Olympic College Equity & Inclusion webpage where you will find a host of resources, including a toolkit with reentry support resources.

The Olympic College Career Center offers support for students seeking employment, including many events held throughout the year. For more information, visit the Career Center page on our website.