Our country’s largest corporations and leading business schools are increasingly engaged in addressing society’s biggest challenges. Among those challenges is the need for second-chance employment programs.

Unemployment and poverty are among the biggest predictors of lifetime incarceration and recidivism, and mass incarceration has disproportionately impacted communities of color.

Yet, labor market discrimination and structural restrictions prevent a substantial number of the 80 million Americans with criminal records from securing gainful employment.

"Charting a Path Forward," organized by the Business Roundtable; Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School; Justice Through Code at Columbia University; and Second Chance Business Coalition, co-chaired by JPMorgan Chase and Eaton Corporation, will explore labor market trends and the role that corporations and business schools can play in educating the business community and future leaders on the benefits of second chance employment.

The conference will bring together business leaders, faculty, administrators, and scholars from business schools, and directly impacted individuals. Participants will hear from leading CEOs on the business motivation for second chance hiring and the practical steps chief human resources officers (CHRO) have taken to develop and implement second chance employment programs. Together, panelists will highlight leading examples of the work of state governors and business schools in providing individuals with a criminal record with pathways to sustainable employment.