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Practices & Centers

Center for Justice & Economic Advancement

We are breaking down systemic barriers and enacting fair chance employment for people with criminal records while creating economic advancement.

Every person with a record should have a fair chance to secure a quality job and a better life.

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People with records face persistent barriers to success in education and the workforce because of policies and practices that exclude them from quality jobs matching their skills and aspirations. This leaves 70 million people on the sidelines of the labor market.

ܽƵ’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement partners with employers, education and training providers, corrections agencies, and others to promote education, training, and fair chance employment for people in corrections facilities and communities.

Key Initiatives

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Normalizing Opportunity Policy Agenda

We advocate for state and federal policy solutions that remove barriers and establish conditions that create equitable economic advancement for people with records.

Fair Chance Employment Initiatives

Our helps employers tap into a diverse pool of talent and create an inclusive environment so individuals with records thrive in the workplace.

Postsecondary Attainment and Talent Development

ܽƵing with education institutions, corrections agencies, and workforce systems, we promote models, practices, and policies that ensure people with records can access high-quality credentials in corrections and in communities.

News & Ideas

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Project

A Transformative Community of Practice for Postsecondary Education in Prison

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Project

Using our Normalizing Opportunity policy framework as a guide for systemic change, we are developing policy briefs and other strategic resources with recommendations about where change needs to occur and how to create conditions that enable opportunity. We will regularly update this page with new data, insights, and ideas as we expand our ongoing research and collaborate with new partners who share our commitment to normalizing opportunity. Download "A Strong REO Program Helps Build A Strong ܽƵforce" below.

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Normalizing Opportunity Advocacy Campaign

Through original artwork by legendary artist and activist Brandan “” Odums and poetry by acclaimed writer , this advocacy campaign showcases the transformational work of iconic justice advocates Susan Burton, John Gargano, and McKinley Mac Phipps which elevates the success that individuals who have been incarcerated can achieve when barriers come down and opportunities expand.

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Normalizing Education Resource Center

Seventy percent of individuals who are incarcerated want to earn a postsecondary credential. This digital field guide provides education leaders and corrections professionals access to a free library of resources necessary to create high-quality education programming for students who are incarcerated.



Learn more

The Center for Justice & Economic Advancement and our network of expert partners are available to help you learn about fair chance employment, develop effective models of postsecondary education in prisons, advocate for policies that normalize opportunity, and more. Contact us to learn more about how you can partner with us or support our work, and subscribe for updates.