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LSC podcast spotlights Kentucky Comebackas a model for second-chance hiring
Summary
Legal Services Corporation host Ron Flagg convened a live July 20 conversation in Louisville with Ryan Bowman of the Kentucky Chamber Foundation and Barbara Acker of Richmond Baking about Kentucky Comebackefforts to combine expungement, employer training and recovery partnerships to expand second-chance employment.
Legal Services Corporation president Ron Flagg opened a live Talk Justice episode in Louisville by saying the program would examine how Kentuckyhas prioritized second-chance employment to help workers and employers after the opioid epidemic. Flagg introduced Ryan Bowman of the Kentucky Chamber Foundation and Barbara Acker of Richmond Baking as panelists who have led local efforts to clear records and recruit job-ready candidates.
Bowman told listeners the Chamber developed a workforce recovery program after member businesses reported acute hiring shortages and low state labor-force participation — "historically in the bottom 10, about 54% workforce participation." He described the Fair Chance Academy, employer curricula and a live website of resources that aim to translate recovery and justice-service language into practical hiring tools for businesses. Acker said the work began as a personal effort after family loss and became a business strategy at Richmond Baking, where second-chance hires now make up about 10% of staff and have contributed to retention, internal promotions and a referral pipeline.
