San Quentin’s Prison 2 Employment Connection program held its Employer Day event that featured interviews with employers and connected incarcerated people with resources.
The last time P2EC resident facilitator Donald Edge was interviewed was more than 25 years ago. He said that his participation in the program was important because it gave him confidence.
“The one fear I have going into the interview is my lack of confidence because I’m so far behind the times, but my goal was to present myself well and make connections,” Edge said. “Talking to the interviewer of Caminar boosted my confidence.”
Edge’s future goal is to become a substance abuse counselor. During his interview with the Caminar organization, Edge learned that his biggest asset was his lived experience.
He recommends the program to residents because there are several companies looking for people with lived experience. The event took place in the facility’s Protestant chapel.
Richard Rivali has spent 23 years behind bars. He said that prior to prison he was employed by family members. His last interview was more than 20 years ago with National RV, a job he received from his brother.
“To sit down like this and be asked questions like ‘Who are you?’ is going to be difficult, but I’m excited,” Rivali said.
P2EC is a 14-week program that conducts mock interviews, holds resumé workshops, and provides a space for individuals to practice answering tough questions presented to formerly incarcerated people. The program also offers participants job readiness skills and a direct path to employment after prison.
The visiting companies represented various industries: tech, construction, healthcare, and social work. P2EC helps residents transform their prison work ethics into skills that make residents employable.
According to one resident standing in line for an interview, incarcerated people who have spent decades in prison may find it difficult to obtain employment once released. One way the program helps residents is by coaching them on ways they can explain the gaps in their employment history when asked, “What is your prior work experience?”
Resident Edgar Rodriguez said his goal is justice focused and deals with interpersonal work in the community. He said he was nervous because his last interview was in 2009, before he committed his crime.
Rodriguez said that P2EC helped him overcome his self-doubt and low self-esteem, but mostly the program gave him time to practice turning difficult questions into opportunities of reintegration and success.
He said that out of the 27 visiting Second Chance Employers, two resonated with him. He felt good about the organizations that related to social programs.
“I interviewed with Planting Justice. I loved their idea of giving back to the community through planting, selling produce, and teaching community members how to plant their own crops,” said Rodriguez. “They highlighted things I want to do after I get out and they hire formerly incarcerated people.”
He added that being interviewed by a formerly incarcerated person who has benefited from the P2EC program made this experience significant.
Resident Kenneth Wilkinson said he had never interviewed with an organization outside of prison, but he has interviewed with Healthcare Facilities Management at California Prison Industry Authority, which hires incarcerated custodial workers as vocational training for residents.
“Realistically, my job [after incarceration] would be an opportunity as an electrician. I’m trying to find organizations tied to that hands-on experience,” Wilkinson said. “It’s between Tesla and Caltrans.”
Sumer Schultz, P2EC’s exutive director, acknowledged incarcerated facilitators Robert Tyler, John Levin, Angel Alvarez, James Duff, and Terry Winston for their commitment to the cohort.
“Each of you has brought something truly special to this group. Whether it was quiet leadership, a word of encouragement at just the right time, or simply the choice to keep showing up and giving your best — you’ve helped shape the heart of this class,” Schultz said.
Schultz added that what makes this program meaningful is the conversations residents have with each other in the housing units and when the facilitators help residents finish their resumé work on the yard and boosting their confidence before the mock interviews. She said the work by the incarcerated facilitators is done with generosity, consistency, and care.
“You’ve reminded me, and everyone who’s walked into this room, of what resilience really looks like,” said Schultz. “You are not defined by your past. You are defined by your effort, your courage, and your vision for who you’re becoming.”
Side Bar
The graduates of the P2EC program sat across from representatives of Hospitality House, Planting Justice, Bain & Company, Tesla, Rubicon, San Francisco Public Spaces, The Last Mile, Checkr, Diane Lewis, Farming Hope, Fire Brand, Forestry & Fire Recruitment Program, Caminar, Iron Workers Union, CalTrans, Acrobat Advisors, CEO Works, Salesforce, and Alameda Workforce Development to conduct real world interviews and receive feedback. After each interview, representatives took a few minutes to fill out a survey on each candidate’s performance.