In early-2014, the White House has an initiative, Champions of Change, where it highlights that
The best ideas come from the American people. Everyone has a story to tell, everyone has a part to play.
All across the country, ordinary Americans are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. Every week, we will invite these Champions of Change to the White House to share their ideas to win the future.
The White House honored “14 local ‘Champions of Change’ for their efforts to engage communities and youth in environmental stewardship and conservation, and encouraging a new generation of leaders to play, learn, serve, and work outdoors.”
The White House has asked the American people to “Nominate a White House Champion of Change for Expanding Reentry Employment Opportunities”. This notice was put up in a White House blog entry from Tonya Robinson, Special Assistant to the President for Justice and Regulatory Policy. Among other things, the White House has asked for nominees to be individuals who are:
- Providing job opportunities to individuals with a criminal record and/or creating and implementing model screening or hiring policies,
- Personally demonstrating an exemplary record of employment or entrepreneurial success after incarceration and in turn providing employment opportunities and mentorship to the reentry population,
- Creating effective education, training, mentoring and other transitional programs to help individuals with a criminal record improve employment outcomes,
- Advocating for policy and legislative changes that lead to increased employment opportunities for individuals with a criminal record; and/or
- Leveraging technology to increase access to employment-related reentry services or education and skills-building for individuals with a criminal record.Click on the link below to submit your nomination (be sure to choose Reentry Employment Opportunities in the “Theme of Service” field of the nomination form).
Eric J. Ellman is Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs at the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) in Washington, DC. He also served for eight months as Interim President and CEO of the Association. More