ban the box
Sustained momentum has energized the fight to remove economic barriers that formerly incarcerated people face every day. VOTE’s Campaign to End Employment Discrimination (CEED) supports the immediate needs of FIPs and provides room to produce and implement the long term strategy that will reclaim FIPs power as citizens and restore our community’s health and prosperity.
In 2015, VOTE staff worked through the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People and Families Movement to bring 130,000 petitions to the White House, calling on President Obama to Ban the Box on federal job applications. A week later, the demand was met. Although it is only a step in a larger policy and cultural struggle, it is the most significant moment in pushing this key national economic issue facing the families of 80 million people who have conviction histories.
Furthermore, in 2016, we worked with a broad statewide coalition to Ban the Box on roughly 40,000 unclassified state jobs.
In 2017, VOTE testified before the Louisiana Civil Service Commission, who unanimously voted to Ban the Box on classified state jobs! This builds upon last year's victory. Read the Rule HERE.
After launching CEED in 2011, we have created entrepreneurship opportunities for FIPs:
These opportunities will expand in growth, scope and vision with CEED, pushing Ban the Box statewide and mobilizing people to act through the strategic media portion of CEED which humanizes FIPs to remove the stigma attached to incarceration in part by exposing how people who have been in prison are treated upon returning home.
Our national work comes at a time when our sister organizations have also made powerful moves in a positive direction. Norris Henderson and Deputy Director Bruce Reilly provide their legal policy analysis to improve legislation that is often misguided, and reminds America that although a bill may have a wonderful name, the devil can be in the details. These national relationships are forged with the intent to benefit people impacted by mass incarceration on all levels, as employment is not an end to itself.
Contact us about how you can help further VOTE's work on a national scale.
In 2015, VOTE staff worked through the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People and Families Movement to bring 130,000 petitions to the White House, calling on President Obama to Ban the Box on federal job applications. A week later, the demand was met. Although it is only a step in a larger policy and cultural struggle, it is the most significant moment in pushing this key national economic issue facing the families of 80 million people who have conviction histories.
Furthermore, in 2016, we worked with a broad statewide coalition to Ban the Box on roughly 40,000 unclassified state jobs.
In 2017, VOTE testified before the Louisiana Civil Service Commission, who unanimously voted to Ban the Box on classified state jobs! This builds upon last year's victory. Read the Rule HERE.
After launching CEED in 2011, we have created entrepreneurship opportunities for FIPs:
- Started a silk screening shop, in partnership with Resurrection After Exoneration (R.A.E.);
- Held a 2013 job fair to connect FIPs with potential employers open to hiring them;
- Hosted expungement clinics to remove barriers to employment;
- Drafted and advocated for Act 486 of 2012, legislation that become law. This legislation removed barriers to gainful employment;
- In 2015, worked with FICPFM and John Legend to push President Obama to Ban the Box for federal jobs;
- In 2016, pushed the Louisiana state legislature to Ban the Box on unclassified state jobs;
- Are continuing to gather resources to create even greater entrepreneurial potential for FIPs.
These opportunities will expand in growth, scope and vision with CEED, pushing Ban the Box statewide and mobilizing people to act through the strategic media portion of CEED which humanizes FIPs to remove the stigma attached to incarceration in part by exposing how people who have been in prison are treated upon returning home.
Our national work comes at a time when our sister organizations have also made powerful moves in a positive direction. Norris Henderson and Deputy Director Bruce Reilly provide their legal policy analysis to improve legislation that is often misguided, and reminds America that although a bill may have a wonderful name, the devil can be in the details. These national relationships are forged with the intent to benefit people impacted by mass incarceration on all levels, as employment is not an end to itself.
Contact us about how you can help further VOTE's work on a national scale.
Back to: What We Do
