Expert Panel Discusses Pathways to Reentry and Employment for the Formerly Incarcerated

By: MENTOR

Awareness

image1This April, representatives from the White House, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR), the National Urban League and others participated in a panel discussion to examine programs and policies aimed at helping at-risk youth stay on track and formerly incarcerated individuals find pathways to financial stability.

Moderated by White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks April Ryan, the conversation was the first in a three-part discussion series convened by the National Urban League and Bank of America designed to examine the important policy issues affecting minority communities.

Panelists discussed the challenges facing individuals who are being released from prison, including difficulties finding jobs and housing, and problems reconnecting with family and other social supports.

MENTOR CEO David Shapiro explained how mentoring helps keep youth on track on a path toward success, and discussed the greatest challenges in connecting at-risk youth with mentors.

“We have to acknowledge that we have a support and opportunity gap in this country, and then create systemic responses to reach and support young people.  This can only be done when organizations that are broadly embedded in communities, like the National Urban League, operate high-quality mentoring programs, and leaders like Bank of America invest in mentoring,” Shapiro said.

Bank of America Charitable Foundation President and MENTOR board member Kerry Sullivan addressed the social and economic challenges facing particular communities of color and urban areas who are struggling to build wealth and achieve financial stability, adding that mentoring helps support and expand apprenticeships and programs critical to the financial success of today’s young people.

In addition, representatives from the National Urban League and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission addressed important and necessary reforms in housing and employment designed to help open doors to opportunity.

___________________________________________________________________

To encourage and promote the important work done in support of the successful reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals, the U.S. Department of Justice has designated the week of April 24-30, 2016, National Reentry Week.

  • Download Now
    Please select all that apply
  • MENTOR National and Affiliates will use the information you provide to better inform future publications and keep you up to date with advancements in the mentoring field. For more information, check out our privacy policy.

  • Download Now
    Please select all that apply
  • MENTOR National and Affiliates will use the information you provide to better inform future publications and keep you up to date with advancements in the mentoring field. For more information, check out our privacy policy.