Center for Employment Opportunities - CEO

We’re excited to announce the promotion of Arlene Yang to Deputy General Counsel.

Since joining CEO in 2023, Arlene has played a key role as a legal and strategic advisor to teams across the organization. Based in our San Diego office, she brings deep expertise in employment law and litigation, and will continue helping guide and support CEO’s work nationwide in her new role.

Please join us in congratulating Arlene on this well-deserved promotion!

It's unfortunate to share that the Fair Chance Improvement Act (AB 2095) was not brought to a floor vote in the California State Assembly before the legislative deadline.

For too many Californians returning home from incarceration, barriers to employment continue long after their sentence ends. AB 2095 would have strengthened fair chance protections by addressing harmful hiring practices, increasing transparency in the background check process, and expanding access to opportunity for qualified job seekers.

We will continue organizing, advocating, and building momentum to bring this legislation back next year.

When Damien returned home from incarceration, the uncertainty, stress, and isolation felt overwhelming. Realizing he could not navigate it alone, he turned to therapy.

By prioritizing his mental health, Damien began processing years of difficult life experiences, practicing patience, and rebuilding family relationships. Today, he is working full-time and defines stability through consistency and peace of mind.

To build a truly fair society, we must support the emotional well-being of those returning to our communities. Read his full story: https://ceolink.co/4wG3xHr

May's Returning Strong newsletter is live!

Inside this edition, you’ll find updates on a new policy initiative focused on turning frontline reentry experience into real policy solutions, stories that spotlight the barriers and resilience of returning youth, and the continued impact of CEO’s employment services across the country.

Read the full newsletter: https://ceolink.co/4nVlMo1

CEO is excited to announce the renewal of our partnership with Inspire Change, the NFL's social justice initiative!

Thanks to their support, CEO will continue expanding its Emerging Leaders Program, a paid on-the-job apprenticeship, to serve 40 justice-impacted participants annually across multiple cohorts. This investment extends the apprenticeship from 12 to 16 weeks, giving participants more time to build skills, earn credentials, and prepare for long-term careers in social and human services.

We look forward to continuing our collaborative work to build safer, more equitable communities!

Read more: https://ceolink.co/43EaqLP

Too often, a past conviction becomes a shortcut to reject someone instead of giving them a fair shot.

The Fair Chance Improvement Act (AB 2095) strengthens California’s Fair Chance framework by tightening how conviction history can be considered in hiring decisions and reinforcing what a lawful, individualized assessment is required to look like in practice.

Under this bill, any decision based on conviction history must be directly tied to the specific duties of the job, not assumptions about someone’s past.

Take action to support the bill: https://ceolink.co/49T7ApW

Instead of experiencing milestones that shape most young people’s lives, Chad spent his youth growing up behind bars, navigating isolation and the lasting impact incarceration has on a young person’s development.

For National Returning Youth Month, Chad is sharing his story of being incarcerated at 17 years old and spending his young adulthood behind bars. After returning home, he faced the challenges of rebuilding his life while trying to find stability, opportunity, and a path forward.

Read how he is using his experience to advocate for others impacted by the justice system: https://ceolink.co/3RfVlxo

Imagine trying to get a job, secure housing, or catch a bus, but you don't have an ID, and you don't have the paperwork to get one.

A reentry simulation in Cuyahoga County highlighted some of the barriers people face after incarceration, including navigating transportation, finding employment, accessing services, and obtaining identification documents.

Experiences like this help raise awareness about the challenges many people encounter during reentry and the importance of investing in support systems that create pathways to long-term stability.

Read the full article: https://ceolink.co/4nGOqJt

We’re excited to celebrate Alicia Stokes on her promotion to Director of Talent!

Since joining CEO in 2019 as a Business Account Manager in Detroit, Alicia has continued to grow into leadership roles across the organization, serving as a Recruiter, Senior Recruiter, Talent Acquisition Manager, and now Director of Talent.

Today, she leads CEO’s national recruiting and compensation strategy across more than 30 sites nationwide, helping strengthen hiring practices, develop internal leadership pathways, and build teams that support CEO’s work in communities across the country.

Congratulations, Alicia, on this well-deserved promotion.

Finding stable employment after incarceration can be the turning point that changes someone’s future.

A recent KOCO 5 News story highlights how CEO Oklahoma City is helping people reenter the workforce through paid transitional jobs and support that leads to long-term employment and economic mobility.

Since opening in 2013, CEO Oklahoma City has supported thousands of participants as they build stability, gain skills, and move toward lasting careers after release.

Read more: https://ceolink.co/4wbXs5n