MADISON, April 12, 2019 — The Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW), in partnership with the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections, is hosting a reentry summit to encourage Wisconsin businesses to hire individuals reentering the workforce from incarceration.
Unlocking Potential: Reentry – A Workforce Development Initiative will be held on April 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Sheraton in Madison (760 John Nolen Drive). The goal of the summit is to share how individuals reentering the workforce from incarceration can be a valuable addition to the workforce and how Wisconsin is working to integrate corrections and workforce strategies.
“Businesses seeking new talent should attend this summit,” said Pat Schramm, Executive Director at the WDBSCW. “As the labor force tightens, companies may need to explore additional avenues to fill available positions. We’re excited to introduce companies and corrections experts that can speak to the benefits and best practices of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals – and how it can be a win for all.”
Attendees will hear from:
- Department of Corrections Secretary designee Kevin Carr
- Reentry program leaders from the Department of Corrections
- Department of Corrections social workers, unit managers and superintendents
- Probation and parole agents
- Success stories: Employer partners and workers
- Substance use disorder expert
- Labor law expert from the Equal Rights Division of the Department of Workforce Development
- WDBSCW Executive Director Pat Schramm
“We’re looking forward to this event to learn more about individuals’ experiences after being released from prison, as well as the science behind why people commit crimes,” said Crystal Fisher at Aprilaire. “My hope as an employer is that this information will provide insight for us to work with the reentry population, and help us empathize with individuals when they struggle. Further, we hope to continue building and creating partnerships to help make our communities better places to live and work.”
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration and more information can be found at workforcedevelopment-unlockingpotential.eventbrite.com.
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About Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin
The Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collaborates with business and workforce in the Wisconsin counties of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Marquette and Sauk with a mission to build public and private partnerships that support innovation and excellence in workforce development.