Wichita job fair geared toward helping ex-offenders find work - KAKE
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WICHITA, Kan. --- Finding a job is often a stressful process. For applicants with criminal records, it can be nearly impossible.
That's why a job fair this weekend at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita is specifically geared toward putting felons to work.
Around 200 ex-offenders got the chance to connect with employers that are open to hiring people who've been incarcerated.
"I've been feeling really anxious, it's been hard to figure out what to do, what to do next," said Donna Thomas, who was released from prison a week ago.
Thomas served 16 months at the Topeka Correctional Facility for possession of meth.
"Everything came crashing down. I went through a divorce, lost my kids," Thomas said. "You turn to drugs to cope with the pain."
Now on the path to recovery, Thomas is hitting roadblocks when she tries to apply for jobs. She says prospective employers only focus on her past conviction rather than her current potential.
"We just need a chance for employers to hire us," she said. "People can change."
One of those employers looking to give Thomas a chance is Chris Rickerson. His business Elite Staffing Solutions provides employees to clients in a variety of industries. While many of his clients don't hire felons, he says those that do often get more dependable people working for them.
"When you give someone a chance that other people may not be willing to give a chance to, then you get someone who's going to work twice as hard for you," Rickerson said.
The coordinator of the job fair says ex-offenders are far less likely to become incarcerated again if they find work.
"If we can get them a job, then everything else kind of falls into place in their life," said Obadiah Blackmon. "This is just a way to help them get back into society and become productive members of society."
Thomas wants other employers in town to follow suit, and hopes events like these will start to shift society's attitude about former criminals.
"We're not bad people, we just made a mistake," Thomas said. "We're humans too and we paid the price for that mistake. We're just as equal as you."
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