JustLeadershipUSA Applauds Resolution to Recognize April as “Fair Chance Jobs Month”

Today, U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) re-introduced a resolution recognizing April as “Fair Chance Jobs Month.” DeAnna Hoskins, President/CEO of JustLeadershipUSA and Founder of the JustUS Coordinating Council, issued the following statement:

We want to extend our gratitude to Sen. Markey and Sen. Klobuchar for their leadership in putting forward this resolution and taking into consideration both the lived experience and subject-matter expertise of JustLeadershipUSA and the JustUS Coordinating Council in the process. Because April is recognized as “Second Chance Month” for those who are directly impacted by the criminal legal system, it is already an important month at JustLeadershipUSA.

While the language of “second chances” has helped bring attention to the reality that people returning home from incarceration deserve opportunities to rebuild their lives, we also understand what people truly need is not charity; it’s fair and equitable access. The Senators’ commitment to elevating the importance of having a fair chance at opportunity makes April that much more significant in the lives of the directly impacted community.

This resolution recognizes the immense harm caused by the criminal legal system—especially its economic impact on directly affected individuals—and highlights ongoing barriers to basic needs that continue to affect families and communities. Solutions to these permanent punishments exist. The Fair Chance Jobs Month resolution outlines the whole-of-government approach necessary to ensure access and opportunity. To enhance public safety and stabilize the economy, we must dismantle ineffective policies and expand pathways to training and enhanced support.

This resolution also compliments our 2025–2029 Roadmap for national policy and criminal justice reform, which proposes responsible, actionable solutions across all levels of government. The Roadmap prioritizes economic mobility by eliminating systemic barriers to economic opportunity. Recognizing April as “Fair Chance Jobs Month” is a key step toward economic growth and public safety for all. We look forward to working with Congress to advance this vision.

Learn more about how we are elevating issues impacting the 70+ million Americans with lived experience at the Federal level through the JustUS Coordinating Council (JCC) at justuscc.org.