Valley of the Sun United Way launches new 'Fair Chance Collaborative'

Valley of the Sun United Way is forming a new Fair Chance Collaborative to help address the multi-dimensional needs of individuals in the Phoenix metropolitan area who have been involved with the justice system.

The collaborative was catalyzed by a $500,000 investment from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, according to a press release.

The new Collaborative will build off existing efforts and explore comprehensive and interconnected Fair Chance approaches, including job training, placement, hiring and retention, as well as resources for housing, healthcare, financial health, entrepreneurial training and other needs of justice-involved individuals. Initial goals include providing technical assistance to nonprofits that assist justice-involved individuals as well as to employers working to increase Fair Chance hiring and retention. The Collaborative will bring together employers, Fair Chance service providers, educational institutions, public and government stakeholders, community leaders, justice-serving individuals and other key stakeholders.

“Involvement in the justice system and past mistakes should not define a person’s future and hamper them from future opportunities to succeed after completing their legal obligations,” Carla Vargas Jasa, president and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way, said in the release. “Through our community-driven MC2026 plan, we’re partnering with others to increase Fair Chance hiring and supportive services so those involved in the justice system have every opportunity to succeed—for themselves, for their families and for our community. We’re grateful to JPMorgan Chase for investing in the power of this collaboration.”

Corporate, nonprofit and other community partners who are interested in learning more about the Fair Chance Collaborative should contact Valley of the Sun United Way’s Vannessa Moreno at vmoreno@vsuw.org.

“Everyone deserves a fair chance,“ Noreen Bishop, managing director and head of Arizona for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, who also sits on the local leadership team for JPMorgan Chase, said in the release. “We applaud the efforts of Valley of the Sun United Way to bring together the community to address the comprehensive needs of individuals who have have been involved with the justice system so they can get the support they need and pursue good jobs and careers.”