Celebrating Second Chance Month in Hamilton County
April is recognized nationally as Second Chance Month, with local organizations across the region marking the month through events and activities focused on expanding opportunity. Our team had the opportunity to attend and participate in two of these events in support of Second Chance Month and the jobseekers they serve.
Building a Practical Reentry Ecosystem in Hamilton County
Each year, approximately 700 individuals return home to our community from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction. When accounting for individuals returning from federal facilities and the Hamilton County jail system, that number grows significantly, totaling closer to 1,900 people reentering our community annually. Across the state, the three-year recidivism rate stands at 31.45%.
Unlocking Career Pathways with the Federal Reserve Bank’s Occupational Mobility Explorer
The Federal Reserve’s Occupational Mobility Explorer (OME) is a data-driven tool designed to help job seekers, workforce professionals, and employers identify and visualize how overlapping skillsets can lead to upward mobility in career pathways across 600+ job titles in over 500 US locations.
Hiring Returning Citizens – What Employers Should Know
Across the country, employers are seeking dependable workers who are motivated to succeed and eager to contribute. At the same time, many returning citizens—individuals involved in the legal system—are working every day to rebuild their lives, and employment is one of the most important steps in that process.
The Business Case for Fair Chance Hiring: A Workforce Strategy Hiding in Plain Sight
Fair chance hiring is a strategic workforce strategy that expands access to talent, helps reduce turnover, lowers long-term hiring costs, and supports a more stable workforce. It also connects individuals who are ready to work with employers willing to invest in their success.
Employer Event: Healthcare in a Day at the Christ Hospital
On March 4, 2026, we invited our workforce partners to attend a Healthcare in a Day event hosted by The Christ College of Nursing & Health Sciences and The Christ Hospital as part of our Employer Tour Program. Healthcare in a Day is a twice-per-year event designed to highlight healthcare career opportunities for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the healthcare field.
Great Oaks Career Campuses: Adult Skills Training for Personal Success and the Future Economy
Alternate pathways to a successful career are essential. For adults who find that college isn’t in the cards or who realize that they need more training to reach their goals, adult education programs at area career centers can be the answer.
Workforce Partner Tour: Workforce Development Center at Cincinnati State
On January 23, 2026, our Employer Tour Program visited the Workforce Development Center (WDC) at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Attendees received an engaging, wide-ranging tour of the Evendale facility led by Cheryl Brackman, Emily Helmers, and Amy Waldbillig. The visit highlighted how the center connects training directly to employer needs and career pathways in the region.
Building STARs in Southwest Ohio: How Great Oaks Prepares Career-Ready Graduates
Great Oaks Career Campuses, one of the largest public career-technical school districts in the country, offers STAR opportunities for students in southwest Ohio. This includes training and education in information technology, dental assisting, manufacturing engineering, surgical sterile processing, construction, automotive and EV technology, aviation maintenance, exercise science and sports medicine, digital arts and design, equine and livestock management, and more
Fair Chance Blog Series: What is Fair Chance Hiring?
This post kicks off our Fair Chance blog series; a collection of stories, information, and practical examples about what it means to build a more honest, effective, and humane hiring system here in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. “Fair Chance” or “justice-impacted” individuals are those whose lives have intersected with the criminal legal system, whether through arrest, conviction, or incarceration.
Lt. Governor Tressel Makes First Stop of WorkOhio Kickoff Tour in Cincinnati
(CINCINNATI, Ohio)—Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel traveled to Cincinnati today for the first stop of his statewide WorkOhio Kickoff Tour.
WorkOhio is a new initiative to connect Ohioans with in-demand jobs in their area through personalized support from teams of regional job experts. The program was announced by Lt. Governor Tressel last week.
Great Oaks Career Campuses: How Ohio’s Career-Technical Education Creates Job Ready Talent
The American workforce is filled with STARs. That is, the workforce is filled with individuals who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes—those whose career path didn’t include a bachelor’s degree. Public CTE districts like Great Oaks are designed to give students the opportunity to receive advanced training and earn professional certifications at no cost to be ready for their chosen career the day they graduate from high school.
