(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, the Department of Employment Services (DOES) Division of State Initiatives (DSI) continues its Second Chance Month event series, hosting a Hack-A-Thon with The Bank on: 100 Million Coalition, powered by Mission: Launch Inc. at the Walter E. Convention Center. The Hack-A-Thon follows a successful Second Chance Hiring Fair that connected DC residents with nearly 100 employers that are actively seeking local talent in the construction, education, administration, healthcare, and social services industries.
“Second Chance Month is for connecting returning citizens and justice-impacted residents to resources, training and employers to further their comeback stories. It is also a time to examine the critical policy issues and innovations that allow for those incarcerated to rejoin society with the skills and access to opportunities that lead to sustained employment and contribution to our local economy,” said DOES Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes. “The Bowser Administration is committed to moving the needle with events like Hack-A-Thon and Second Chance Hiring Fair, connecting business and government to usher change and advance the resources in our jails and prisons, while creating spaces for those seeking employment to secure opportunities to provide for themselves and their families.”
The Hack-A-Thon harnesses the power of people living with records by convening businesses, national leaders, policymakers and U.S. Department of Labor representatives to discuss improvements to the judicial and correctional systems in the District, and nationally. The Washington, DC Hack-A-Thon builds upon a December 2022 Hackathon in Wilmington, DE., and participants are inspired by ideation, cross-sector engagement, and economic growth and partnerships that expand opportunities for justice impacted DC residents to achieve economic prosperity that leads to homeownership. Aventiv and R3 Score will share preparations for the release of R3Up, a job score app for the Aventiv tablets that is designed to meet the unique needs of incarcerated individuals.
One in two working-aged working adults, or 100 million Americans, will have an arrest or conviction record by 2030. DSI is a major service provider within the District’s reentry and job training ecosystem. Through collaborative partnerships with government agencies, non-profits, and private service providers throughout the DMV area, DSI brings specialized services and support to transitional employment program participants. These partnerships offer alternatives to incarceration, legal support, health services, financial support, and entrepreneurship counseling.
To learn more about DSI and the programs and services offered at DOES, visit does.dc.gov or es.does.dc.gov.