Wednesday, April 23, 2014
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative will discuss its efforts to expand opportunities to help those returning to the area after serving time in prison.
The local campaign is part of a statewide effort to pass a statewide fair-hiring policy, restore full civil and political rights for ex-convicts, and move state funding from incarceration to education, substance abuse, and mental health treatment.
“As a person in long-term recovery from alcohol, drugs and mental health issues, it is very upsetting to see so many incarcerated individuals being denied the opportunity to receive treatment for their disease,” said MVOC leader Chad Wiltrout. “We, as a society and human beings, must come together to change this unfortunate situation and give others a fighting chance to live life as we do.”
The MVOC, along with faith-based, labor and community groups will discuss the effort at 4 p.m. April 30 outside the Mahoning County Board of Elections, 345 Oak Hill Ave.
Youngstown City Council approved a resolution, sponsored by Mayor John A. McNally, last month to remove questions about criminal convictions from city employment applications and replacement them with a statement describing when criminal checks would be conducted. Before anyone is hired, the city would require the check and hirings would be done on a case-by-case basis.