Advocating for Opportunity: How Virginia Works is Connecting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals and Employers for Reentry Success

As the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison focuses on expanding and strengthening postsecondary programs in local prisons, one of its key partners, Virginia Works, is also working to ensure that more formerly incarcerated individuals have access to quality jobs after release.  

Launched in 2024, Virginia Works is the state’s official workforce development agency that connects job seekers with employers. The organization provides services, or brings in community partners, to connect job seekers with trainings they need to succeed in the modern workplace. To better support formerly incarcerated individuals, the agency recently introduced new roles called Opportunity Advocates, who will focus on helping connect people leaving the prison system with job opportunities.  

“We’re really excited about this,” explained Kimion Walker, chief operating officer at Virginia Works. “This is more than just putting people in a particular job. We’re incorporating life design, and listening to feedback from the jobseeker on the roles they’re interested in.” 

Formerly incarcerated individuals face an unemployment rate of nearly five times that of the general U.S. population, making programs like these increasingly important.  

The Opportunity Advocates program will help connect candidates to academic and soft skills needed to be successful in the workplace, along with important long-term support like housing. The team is also working closely with the Virginia Department of Corrections staff to fully understand challenges and barriers formerly incarcerated job seekers face. Opportunity advocates will begin working with individuals during the parole process, so they can provide support before they leave the justice system. 

Another key component of the program is employer advocacy. As a proud second-chance employer, Virginia Works also helps organizations build internal structures and training to better serve formerly incarcerated job seekers. 

 “We were founded on the premise of serving a dual customer,” explained Angela Kelly-Wiecek, chief deputy commissioner at Virginia Works. “We serve both employers and job seekers. We are reaching out through probation and parole, and we are hiring Opportunity Advocates who work one-on-one with the employee. Our goal is to spread the word among stakeholders and employers about the many opportunities we have available to assist with their hiring challenges and talent strategies.”  

Through this comprehensive approach, Virginia Works is connecting justice impacted individuals, stakeholders and employers with the resources they need to work together and succeed.   

“Our fourteen local workforce boards and career centers are eager to partner with educators, correctional staff and community organizations to make this possible,” said Nicole Overley, commissioner of Virginia Works. “There is enormous potential in connecting our infrastructure with these initiatives to ensure equitable access to resources.”