1. Thank you Anna, It is an honor for me to be here expressing the
importance of banning the felony question on job applications. For the
past three decades I have been hindered by my criminal past, by being
denied the opportunity to be gainfully employed, and that ain’t right.
My desire for life never included prison. I paid my debt to society, yet
I’m still being judged, by a question that asks Have You Ever Been
Convicted Of A Felony. I worked for $15 a month in prison, so I’m here
today to let you know I embrace the opportunity to become a positive
productive tax paying citizen at a living wage.
I refuse to be stagnated by words on an application anymore. I am “no
we are as a people” entitled to the same rights afforded to every citizen
in the United States, and the equal protection under the law. I’ve been
working with One Northside’s Violence Prevention Coalition in a quest
to make job opportunities equal for all. In our effort to get ban the box
passed, we targeted corporations who would support our work. One
such corporation we met with was Jewel/Osco. It is an honor to
announce that Jewel/Osco has agreed to remove the felony question.
They were unable to have a representative here today. However, they
did provide a statement, which I am honored to read.
“ In March 2014, Jewel-Osco informed One Northside that the company
is removing the felony question from the initial phases of its
employment application process. We sincerely appreciate One
Northside’s commitment to creating better workplace opportunities for
citizens in Chicago, and as a longstanding corporate citizen, we value
what their impassioned volunteer force is doing to improve our
communities.”
Ms. Missy Wyatt

2. Manager, Community Relations & partnership Activation
In closing, I would like to acknowledge that while this is a monumental
victory, we should not lose sight that if just one of us does not have
equal opportunities, it would be a disservice to us all.
When I say One, you say Northside. ONE wait for reply [repeat two
times].