The Business of Second Chances: Economic Empowerment for Justice-Involved Women

Join us for a conversation on the challenges and opportunities for women as they reenter society post-incarceration. In this discussion, we'll be joined by Tess Hart, Cofounder, Triple Bottom Brewing, Celeste Trusty, State Legislative Affairs Director, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, and Tonie Willis, Founder, Ardella's House. We will examine the unique practical hurdles women face while applying for jobs, focusing on the importance of skill-building and combating employer biases.

Moderated by Assata Thomas, Executive Director of the Division of Reentry for the City of Philadelphia, this conversation will feature leading voices in reentry and fair chance hiring. Together, they’ll challenge us to reconsider the reentry system and imagine how it might be transformed. 

This program is part of Justice 101, a discussion series that dives into some of the most pressing issues in criminal justice today, through a historical lens and with a focus on civic education. Each program includes interactive elements, expert voices, and opportunities for community dialogue.

This program was part of A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future, a yearlong slate of free, inclusive programs exploring the evolving meanings of liberty and justice in America. A Time for Liberty is made possible with support from civic and cultural partners including the City of Philadelphia, America250PA, Campus250, the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program series, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.