05/07/2026
Chattanooga Endeavors honored Bad wRAPs INC by allowing us to serve their dining needs
Second Chances, Public Safety, and Real Opportunity
Earlier this week, I attended a training hosted by Chattanooga Endeavors focused on second chance hiring for formerly incarcerated individuals.
This marked the second criminal justice–focused event I’ve participated in within just a few days. On Friday, I was at a Stop the Violence event at Community Haven. Now here, sitting in a room with professionals working on reentry and workforce pathways.
That matters.
Because public safety isn’t just about enforcement; it’s about what happens after someone leaves the system.
Chattanooga Endeavors is doing important work in that space. Traditionally, a lot of reentry efforts focus directly on the individual coming home. What stood out to me about this training is the shift in approach; working directly with HR leaders and employers to strengthen hiring policies and create real pathways into the workforce.
That’s where long-term change happens.
As someone with a background in criminal justice, with a concentration in social services, this work resonates with me. I’ve seen how critical it is to have structure, support, and opportunity when someone is trying to rebuild their life.
And the reality is this:
* Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has some form of criminal record
* Around 600,000 individuals return from incarceration each year
That’s not a small, isolated group; that’s a significant portion of our workforce.
The question becomes: what do we do with that reality?
Wade Hinton led the training and did an excellent job walking through practical strategies for employers; how to build fair chance hiring policies, how to evaluate candidates responsibly, and how to remove unnecessary barriers while still maintaining standards.
We discussed tools like structured assessments, proper screening processes, and the EEOC’s three-factor framework, all designed to help businesses make informed, fair decisions.
But beyond policy, there was something else in the room, intent.
Organizations like the Chattanooga Reentry Release Center, Southeast Tennessee Development District, and the U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee were present. These are groups doing the day-to-day work of helping individuals transition back into society—helping fill the gaps that often lead people back into the system if left unaddressed.
That’s where public safety and opportunity intersect.
Because when someone has access to stable employment, structure, and income, the likelihood of reoffending drops significantly. Work creates stability. Stability creates safer communities.
I also want to acknowledge Benjamin “Rain” Luck and Bryan Slayton, who shared their personal journeys. Hearing directly from individuals who have gone through the system and are now thriving brings a level of perspective you can’t get from data alone. It puts faces and stories to what can sometimes feel like abstract policy conversations.
And Bryan, appreciate you providing lunch from Bad Wraps Incarcerated. That’s entrepreneurship and impact coming full circle.
I’ll continue to show up in these spaces, listen, and work alongside organizations that are committed to strengthening our community from all angles.
Because real leadership means being present; not just when it’s easy, but where the work is actually being done.
