Seattle job fair offers opportunities for people with criminal backgrounds

SEATTLE — Tyrone Cooke was pleasantly surprised Wednesday as employer after employer reached out to him despite his criminal background.

Cooke was one of many convicted felons who came out to day one of The Second Chance Job and Resource Fair at WithinSodo in Seattle’s SODO area.  Also in attendance was King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, who spends much of his time putting people behind bars.

KIRO 7 Anchor John Knicely asked Satterberg what he’d say to people wondering why he’s helping out people with criminal backgrounds.

“It's pretty simple,” said Satterberg.  “Successful re-entry back into the community means more public safety, saves tax payer dollars.”

Satterberg is on the Statewide Reentry Council which was created by the Washington Legislature in 2016. He emphasized that 1 out of 3 inmates in Washington ends up back in prison within 3 years.

Portland Based Dave's Killer Bread is behind the first of its kind 2-day event in the Seattle area.  Event organizers tell KIRO 7 one of the common misconceptions when they're trying to recruit companies is that hiring someone with a criminal background will impact the company’s insurance.  But they say with most companies, that's not the case.

In May 2016, KIRO 7 highlighted Tukwila-based POP Gourmet Foods.  With just under 100 employees, 23 percent are felons.

“If you don't want to give them opportunities,” said David Israel, who spent 4 years in prison before starting POP Gourmet.  “Then you're just saying 'go commit crime,' and then you're complaining about crime -- we're not fixing anything.”

Organizers of The Second Chance Job Fair hope more employers will take the same approach.

“What we're asking people to do who make hiring decisions is not to just make it based on people who have a past conviction,” said Satterberg.  “To actually look at the people and meet them.  Because some of the people I've met in prison are highly motivated and would make great employees. They made a mistake and want to reclaim their life.”

The event continues Thursday, June 8,  from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  You can find more info here:  www.dkbfoundation.org/jobfair.

Cox Media Group