Twenty-two employers and reentry specialists came to San Quentin’s Chapel B for face-to-face interviews with resident graduates for Employer Day, organized by Prison to Employment Connection.
The May 31 workshop focused on connecting residents with jobs prior to leaving San Quentin. The event aimed to give feedback, support, reentry resources, and post-release job placement opportunities to residents.
“What is very unique about prison to employment is the relationship building,” said Sumer Schulze, Executive Director of P2EC. “You don’t have to be defined by your choices in the past and you can do programing that helps you think about your future.”
The curriculum taught resume building, how to maintain eye contact and proper body language, and interviewing techniques. Graduates of the program called this day “the Super Bowl” of the entire workshop. Residents lined up in the center aisle to meet the employers who interviewed and assessed them.
Program Manager Gabrielle Nicolet acknowledged residents for their commitment to participation in the workshop. She praised them for creating success packets to display all their hard work in the program. “You guys are a big inspiration for why I do what I do out there,” she said.
The late Diana E. Williams created the employment readiness workshop P2EC in 2014. The program works as a Rehabilitative Activity Credit program that reduces sentence time for some participants. The course required attendance of 14 weeks of classes for completion.
Employers sat in a row of chairs facing a row of residents ready for interviews and assessments. Equipped with clipboards, they spent 15 minutes with each resident.
“You are all welcome to come down and join, if you are not afraid of hard work, we will hire you,” said Kenneth Miller with Iron Workers Local 378 to the graduates of the program who completed the workshop.
Resident and facilitator Angel Alvarez noted the importance of the program and its beginnings. “The entire event is the heart of a volunteer who made a difference in this program,” he told the audience right before reading words from the late Williams. “One of her favorite sayings, ‘Job, Ready’ is a chant that she would say and we want to honor her on this great 10-year anniversary.”
“This interview was very emotional for me,” said resident Terry Winston. “I knew this was what we would be doing when we get out. You have no idea the ripple effect that you have on our lives. What you see right here is not just me — I stand on the shoulders of thousands of people who came before me.”
Residents who completed the program talked about the confidence they gained from speaking with interviewers and the ways in which the workshop had prepared them for this day.
Resident Edward Moss discussed his feeling about the course. “One of the things that made this program impactful for me was the humanity,” he told the volunteers.
The program presented challenging moments and quitting would have made the easier option, according to graduate Jose Melena. “Every time we had the group, they encouraged me.”
Melena later received word from an interviewer that the company would hire him. “I’m speechless. I may not have the words to express myself, but to every one of you, thank you,” he said.
Resident Y. Liu talked about having nightmares about facing life’s challenges after leaving San Quentin and said P2EC was his first experience with a job-training program. “I am comfortable sharing my uncomfortability,” Liu said.
Resident and facilitator Robert Tyler said the program has benefits for anyone who would want to work after release.
“If you’re planning to get out, P2EC is the program to [help you] understand not only the methods for a successful job search but the ideological challenges. If you can be prepared, it is more likely that you can be successful,” he said.
The P2EC chair Tom Lacey attended the event as an interviewer. “My hope is that these people that come through this program develop the skills and self-confidence so that they can be successful on the outside. Getting a job is crucial on the outside,” said Lacey.
The program gave residents the option to attend without being close to board or release.
“Hopefully when you get to board, things go your way, and you will be calling us soon,” said Kevin McCracken, former executive of P2EC.
—Ramon Fritz, Journalism Guild Writer, contributed to this story
