VIRTUAL D&I Author Series: Second Chance Hiring: The Untapped Talent Pool

Join the KC Chamber as author and economic researcher Jeff Korzenik speaks about his new book, "Untapped Talent: How Second Chance Hiring Works for Your Business and the Community" (HarperCollins Leadership, April 2021). The first and only book of its kind, “Untapped Talent” shares the business case and best practices of hiring people with criminal records. The book and Korzenik's national speaking engagements have informed and inspired business leaders to broaden their hiring to this population.  Korzenik argues that hiring people with records is both a business necessity -- the single best answer to our labor shortage -- and a critical component of any DEI initiative. He provides a disciplined and realistic look at this issue: not everyone with a record is ready for employment, and even those that are may require additional support. 
 
Korzenik shares the successful experiences of pioneering second chance employers around the country, identifying the challenges and opportunities in hiring people who have been marginalized from the workforce. Discussion topics include the realities of our criminal justice system, models of hiring (both successful and unsuccessful), overcoming objections, implementation, refinement and where employers can find resources that will enhance the success of any second chance program.
 

Thank you to our 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Sponsors!

Our Presenting Diversity Sponsors are CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy and Hallmark. Our Workshop Presenting Sponsor is Commerce Bank. Our Cornerstone Sponsors are American Century Investments, Bayer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Lockton Companies, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Saint Luke’s Health System, T-Mobile and Waddell & Reed. Our Regional Diversity Sponsors are Arvest Bank, Black & Veatch, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Burns & McDonnell, FleishmanHillard, GEICO, Heavy Constructors Association, Honeywell, Kansas City Royals, KVC Health Systems, McCownGordon Construction, State Street and VanTrust Real Estate. Our Supporting Diversity Sponsors are Accenture, Bank of America, Bardavon Health Innovations, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, CBIZ/MHM, Cerner, Children’s Mercy, Enterprise Holdings, Ernst & Young, Garmin, HNTB, Husch Blackwell, H&R Block, Kansas City Current, Kansas City University, Lathrop GPM, Mazuma Credit Union, McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, Shook Hardy & Bacon, Southwest Airlines, Spire, Stinson, The Builders' Association, The University of Kansas, The University of Kansas Health System and Turner Construction Company.

This event series is in partnership:
Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce
Independence Chamber of Commerce