An Atlanta nonprofit is helping formerly incarcerated women find jobs

April 21st, 2025

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2019, file photo job seekers fill out applications during a job fair at Dolphin Mall in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Formerly incarcerated people often face high barriers to employment. Women on the Rise, an Atlanta nonprofit, is hosting the third annual Second Chance Resource & Job Fair to help justice-impacted women build their careers.

The free event hosted at the Fulton County Metropolitan Library will offer skills training, mock interviews, assistance with vital records, and connections to second-chance employers.

Attendees can also receive help with accessing SNAP benefits, Medicaid, and finding mental health resources.

Trindalin Browning is with Women on the Rise.

“We will have some staffing agencies out there as well to help justice-impacted people that are really second-chance employers for people that find it hard to get employment after they have a felony conviction or have some type of criminal record,” Browning said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says finding a stable job helps them avoid returning to jail. Browning agrees.

“Without sustainable employment, without sustainable housing, you find yourself doing what by any means necessary to do what you need to do to be able to survive,” she said.

Women on the Rise plans to continue building relationships with women who have been affected by the justice system.

There are other organizations in Georgia looking to help people establish themselves in the workforce after re-entering society, like Construction Ready.

Veda White is the admissions and community impact director for the Georgia-based nonprofit that promotes skilled trades education.

“Construction is one of the most forgiving industries for re-entry,” she said.

White added that Construction Ready has been working with people who are formerly incarcerated since 2014.

“Reentry students are our best students. They really are. They come to class on time, they train well and they go out and work and perform well,” White said.

She said providing opportunities to justice-impacted people adds more people to the workforce at a critical time, especially for the construction industry.

“We have a shortage, but every five people that leave the industry, only one comes in. And the sweet thing about Construction Ready is that it is at no cost to our participants,” White said.