Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand calls itself “an aspiring social justice company” and they are living up to their word.
The company has developed a new hiring program that aims to match young people at risk for incarceration with long-term job opportunities.
The company has joined with Unlock Potential, a hiring program that works with major corporations to offer long-term employment for at-risk youth. Ben & Jerry’s aims to “advance racial equity, recruit the next generation of corporate leaders and help disrupt the poverty-to-prison pipeline.”
Chief executive officer Matthew McCarthy talked about the program, saying: “The importance of second-chance employment efforts cannot be overstated. But hiring individuals when they’re released from prison isn’t enough — we have to be taking steps to stop them ending up there in the first place.”
Formerly incarcerated people suffer among the highest rates of unemployment and also this disproportionately affects BIPOC communities. Black Americans are incarcerated at close to five times the rate of white Americans, and research indicates that a criminal record can be 40 percent more damaging for Black men than white men when it comes to employment.
Unlock Potential targets young people aged 16 to 24 who are not employed or receiving an education. Kids who face additional risk factors for incarceration like an incarcerated parent, association with sex or human trafficking, a history with the juvenile justice system and involvement in the foster care system will also get help.
A number of Ben & Jerry’s locations will match with prospective hires with the goal of offering long-term employment with opportunities for career advancement. Those hired will also gain access to support services.
Unlock Potential will help fill positions amid a historic labor shortage and invest in future leadership.
Ben & Jerry’s also has broader efforts to support racial equity and justice and plans to advance their Racial Equity work.
