AMS Fulfillment is a business recognized as a trendsetter in workforce development. For many years the company has seen the value of developing an inclusive and well-trained workforce, and of hiring individuals in the SCV community that face barriers in finding and retaining employment, such as the homeless, individuals with a disability, at-risk youth, single parents, individuals affected by ageism and persons reentering society after having been ‘justice-involved’.
“They don’t hire people with a record,” is an all too common refrain heard among job seekers. Like elsewhere across the country, individuals in SCV encounter closed doors for years after they have been involved in the criminal justice system. AMS CEO Ken Wiseman doesn’t see this as a ‘fair chance’, and neither does the company’s HR Department. AMS is a company that keeps an open mind, and is ready to open doors for individuals who are ready to overcome challenges.
Because of Ken’s dedication and AMS’ example, LA County and the Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Service (WDACS) invited AMS to assist in an upcoming media campaign. Ken was more than willing to help. As a fair chance employer he has seen the strong contribution of employees with barriers to the success of AMS, and he is more than willing to encourage other businesses to open their doors to the reentry population.
The WDACS media campaign is called “redefining reentry.” ‘Reentry’ is understood as entering once again into the workforce after having either been incarcerated or having a criminal record that impacts employment. The media campaign is intended to inspire a more honest narrative that may begin to remove the stigma of being justice-involved. To accomplish this, they will be highlighting the personal stories of those who have successfully reentered, the services available to support reentry, and advocating for increased opportunities for this population.
Thank you to Alex-Handrah Aime and Casswell Goodman, the FUSE Executive Fellows with LA County’s WDACS division who have designed the campaign. AMS agrees that removing the stigma is fundamental to establishing a fair playing field for individuals with justice-involved backgrounds. The reentry stories of several AMS employees as well as the stories of Ken and the HR team will be featured in the campaign, which is set to launch later this year.