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Contact: Jayme Rubenstein Phone: 617-728-4446 Email: jrubenstein@jff.org   LOCAL EMPLOYERS SEEK TO ADVANCE MORE BLACK AND LATINO MEN   But Barriers in Massachusetts Law Still Limit Economic Opportunity   Working Solutions Transcript    Working Solutions Agenda   Organizations Represented at Working Solutions   BOSTON—January 10, 2008—Today, more than 200 government and school officials along with business and community leaders discussed ways to help men of color overcome traditional obstacles to gaining and succeeding in high-skill, higher-paid jobs. The discussion took place at the fifth annual “Making a Difference in Our Community” breakfast, hosted by Jobs for the Future in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. “It is now four decades since Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, where he delivered his famous speech, ‘I’ve been to the Mountaintop,’ in support of striking sanitation workers,” said Jobs for the Future CEO and President Marlene Seltzer in opening the forum. She continued by noting both progress since 1968 and the continuing challenge of moving forward on social and economic equality as the twin engines of justice. The forum addressed the challenge from two directions. On one hand, several Boston business leaders explained why they hire men of color—and what they do to help them succeed in the workplace. On the other hand, forum speakers warned that significant obstacles still prevent many men of color from succeeding in jobs. Specifically, the state’s Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) law has made it difficult for thousands in Massachusetts to get into college, find jobs, or get a loan. Governor Deval Patrick is expected to issue an executive order to change criminal record policies in Massachusetts. City Fresh Foods CEO Glynn Lloyd said one of the keys to building a diverse, yet dedicated staff is to recruit a diverse, yet dedicated leadership team—one that sets an example for the kinds of workforce a company seeks to hire. “Folks come in and see that ‘guys like me can move up, get promoted, and have a real stake in this company,’ ” said Lloyd. His Dorchester-based company employs 70 people, all from minority communities. Joining Lloyd in presenting examples of what Boston employers do to benefit the bottom line by advancing men of color were Jabbar Bennett of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Sabine I. St Lot of State Street Corporation. Employers and job seekers alike have found the CORI law to be an obstacle. Currently, almost half of all people in Massachusetts—2.8 million people—have criminal records, according to the Massachusetts Alliance to Reform CORI. Horace Small, executive director of the Union of Minority Neighborhoods and a leader in the alliance, charged that the Massachusetts law around criminal records is the worst in the nation. He attributed the Commonwealth’s policy to the reaction to the “Willie Horton” attack ads aimed at former Governor Michael Dukakis during his presidential campaign two decades ago. “You could have your case thrown out in court. You still have a CORI,” Small said. “You could be found not guilty. You still have a CORI… this will follow you forever, and ever, and ever.” Anthony Clarke, a community organizer for Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advance (EPOCA), said, “CORI only affects people trying to do the right thing.” He added, “You don’t need a CORI to sell drugs. CORI stops you if you’re knocking on doors trying to get housing, or get a job.” State Senator Dianne Wilkerson (D-Dorchester), noting that Gov. Patrick may act on CORI in the next few days, expressed the need to reform the law so that juvenile crimes do not hold young adults back from entering college, earning state scholarships, and starting their careers. Not reforming CORI for juveniles “is a grave and serious mistake,” Wilkerson said. “They start that punishment earlier in life and deal with it the rest of their lives.” “We cannot be deterred” from taking strong steps to improve the opportunities open to young men of color, said Gov. Patrick’s special advisor on education Dana Mohler-Faria. “We cannot stop doing the work we do everyday to increase the quality of life in this Commonwealth.” Commenting on both the employer perspective and the existence of barriers like CORI, Darnell Williams, CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, said that business leaders will be more prone to helping educate low-skilled black and Latino males if they can envision a return on their investment. “We need to speak not about social responsibility but in terms of business imperative,” Williams said. “Why would business leaders not want lower turnover costs and a new pipeline that brings forward young, qualified, dedicated workers?”   ###   Jobs for the Future is a Boston-based nonprofit that seeks to accelerate the educational and economic advancement of youth and adults struggling in today’s economy. JFF partners with leaders in education, business, government, and communities nationwide to: strengthen opportunities for youth to succeed in postsecondary learning and high-skill careers; increase opportunities for low-income workers to move into family-supporting careers; and meet the growing economic demand for knowledgeable and skilled workers. For more information on Jobs for the Future, visit www.jff.org.