Empowering Communities Through Support

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While Senate Bill 1077 (59th Legislature), sponsored by Senator Jack Stewart, co-sponosred by Senator George Young in the Senate, with State Representatives John Talley and Ajay Pittman waiting to sponsor it in the House, creating  a Fair Chance hiring culture in Oklahoma passed the Business and Commerce Committee 8-0 and had an excellent Interim study before the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 29, 2023, with Bi-patrtisan support exists in both chamberss, enough to pass the legislation, the Senate floor leader refused to let the bill go to the floor for a vote.

A new version of the bill is being drafted for a renewed effort in the next session (60th Legislature, Fall 2024). Meetings have been held with U.S. Senators Field representatives from Oklahoma in an efforst to get Federal legislation passed that would impact all 50 States and create uniformity in some of the efforts across the counrty. We are not shooting for the moon, but trying to create a foundation upon which to build a Fair chance culture in America where the 1 in 3 Americans can begin to shake off the unnecessary bias they face every single day. Our efforts are focused on amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act that will minimize intrusion into the decision making of businesses while working within a mechanusm those businesses are already very familiar with. To see those proposed changes, click on the link below. Contact your local Senator and ask them to promote this legislation!!

J.E.M. has authored a comprehensive Reentry program that it is in the process of seeking funding for. The program addresses the most critical aspects of Reentry together, holistically. 

These elements specifically include: Housing, Employment Training, Employment, Mental Health, Physical Health, Family Unification, Transportation, Community, Education (GED and/or College), Victim Mediation, Financial counseling, and other needs as they may be identified in the assessment stage of the program. Addressing these needs holistically and in tandem with each other offers the opportunity to address the whole person through a single entity and program saving taxpayer dollars and increasing the likelihood of reducing recidivism.

The proposed name of the program is The R.I.G.H.T Reentry Program. The acronym R.I.G.H.T. stands for:

R… Reentry (The overarching social notion of the program),

I…. Integration (within Society and the Family Unit),

G… Gathering (The combined necessary resources to holistically equip the target population for Reentry)

H… Health (Wellness of the Whole Person)

T… Training (Employment, Interpersonal Communication, Financial, etc.).