April Special General Election
City of Detroit celebrates National Second Chance Month with Returning Citizens Hiring and Resource Fair
- The City of Detroit actively recruits Returning Citizens, some of our hardest working employees
- Returning Citizens will be hired on the spot, linked to essential resources
The City of Detroit will celebrate the beginning of National Second Chance month with a hiring and resource fair to connect our Returning Citizens with opportunities for employment in good-paying jobs and other essential resources such as resume building, interview tips, housing support, ID help, adult education, wellness assistance and expungement through the city’s Project Clean Slate program.
The event will be hosted by our partners at the Union Carpenters and Millwrights – at their beautiful new skilled training center located at 11687 American Street, Saturday, April 1 from 9 am-1 pm, and will begin with remarks from Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison and City Council Member Fred Durhal, along with two Retuning Citizens who have come back to Detroit and will tell their success stories to help encourage others.
“Detroit wants to ensure our Returning Citizens know they are important and valued, this event will help provide them with access to opportunities they need to thrive all in one place,” said Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison. “The City actively recruits Returning Citizens, and when we hear from their supervisors, the report is almost always that they are some of the hardest workers and they’re glad to have them as part of their team.”
Councilman Fred Durhal III is the Chair of Detroit’s Returning Citizens Task Force. “Finding a job is not just about earning a paycheck, it's about regaining a sense of purpose, dignity, and belonging. Every person deserves a second chance, and the Returning Citizens Hiring & Resource Fair is a testament to that belief. We believe in creating opportunities, not judgments. It's a chance for employers to see beyond the obstacles residents have faced in their past and recognize the value and potential of our returning citizens,” said Durhal. “Together, we can break down the barriers that prevent the full participation of returning citizens in our workforce and build a more inclusive and just community for all.”
The city has hired nearly 100 Returning Citizens in the past year alone across multiple city departments. In fact, there are several programs such as the Alley and Blight clean-up programs, and seasonal park maintenance, which would not be as successful if not but for our efforts of recruiting Returning Citizens.
Partners who will be at weekend’s fair to provide employment opportunities and connect our Returning Citizens with access to training and other resources:
City of Detroit’s HR Department Union Carpenters & Millwrights Xfinity QB Cleaning, LLC Strategic Staffing Solutions LinkedIn Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Wayne Metro Community Action Agency Center for Employment Opportunities Southwest Economic Solutions Project Clean Slate Goodwill Industries Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) Wayne State University Career Services Detroit at Works SER Metro-Detroit Housing Specialties, LLC
The Returning Citizens’ hiring and resource fair held last summer was a huge success; 32 people were hired on the spot, 21 signed up for training programs, 28 signed up for information on applying for college enrollment and 10 began the expungement process.
