Redefine Alliance

IL HB3751 Passes the Legislature in Illinois!

On May 28, HB3751 passed out of the Illinois General Assembly and now advances to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk! This important bill would recognize employment social enterprises (ESEs) in Illinois state law — affirming the value of this business model as a pathway to support inclusive employment, and unlocking opportunities to support scale and sustainability for ESEs across the state.

A huge thank you to thank you to Rep. Jawaharial Omar Williams, State Representative Kam Buckner, and State Senator Celina Villanueva, the lead bill sponsors, for fighting for a more inclusive economy in Illinois. And we could not have done this without the support of the bill supporters: https://bit.ly/49xbTHj

Big news: CA RISE is coming back for Round 2 🎉

In partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), we’re excited to kick off the next phase of CA RISE — a statewide initiative helping California small businesses and social enterprise leaders access the support, resources, and guidance they need to grow and thrive.

Join us for a live webinar on May 28 at 12pm PT to hear what’s ahead.

We’ll be sharing:
➡️ What’s new in this next round of programming
➡️ When applications will open
➡️ How to prepare for launch

Whether you joined us last time or are hearing about CA RISE for the first time, this is a great chance to connect with our team and get the latest updates firsthand.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4dQmxKG

Can’t make it live? We’ve got you covered. A recording will be available on our site at: redefinealliance.org/ca-rise

📣 Roberts Impact Investing Fund (RIIF) and Crenshaw Coffee Co. are brewing something special in South LA.

What started as a coffee company in 2021 is growing into a community space rooted in opportunity, entrepreneurship, and connection. Their new South LA location will serve as a café, training space, and hub for young people building skills and pathways to employment.

A $500,000 RIIF loan is helping bring that vision to life by funding the improvements, equipment, and furnishings needed to open their doors.

We’re proud to support organizations like Crenshaw Coffee Co. that are investing in people and creating pathways to economic power in their communities.

Learn more about RIIF: robertsimpact.org

New from the Roberts Impact Investing Fund: the 2025 Impact Report is now live!

This report reflects how five years of flexible, workforce-focused capital is helping inclusive employers grow quality jobs, strengthen communities, and create lasting pathways to economic mobility — even during periods of disruption and recovery.

As CEO Carrie McKellogg writes, “Capital can and should be a tool for economic mobility.”

Read the full report:https://redefinealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/RIIF-impact-report-2025.pdf

For nearly 30 years, we’ve witnessed the life-changing power of employment social enterprises (ESEs) — mission-driven businesses that hire and support people overcoming the steepest barriers to employment, like experiencing homelessness or returning from incarceration.

But we’ve also learned something important: even the strongest organizations can only go so far alone.

Real systems change happens when employers, funders, policymakers, and community organizations work together, creating ecosystems that open more pathways to quality jobs and build long-term economic power.

In our newest blog, Jeff Bergquist, our vice president of strategy, shares why we believe regional ecosystems are the key to scaling impact, and why we’re starting in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Central Appalachia.

Read more about our ecosystem approach and where we’re headed next: https://redefinealliance.org/news/introducing-our-ecosystem-approach/

We’re hiring an Illinois Ecosystem Manager!

This role is about bringing people together to help create more inclusive pathways to employment and economic power across Illinois. You’ll work alongside employers, community organizations, advocates, and policymakers to strengthen partnerships, support employment social enterprises (ESEs), and help move meaningful change forward.

Illinois is one of three pilot regions helping shape our ecosystem strategy, so we’re looking for someone who’s excited to build relationships, connect dots, and help turn good ideas into action.

If you’re relationship-oriented, strategic, and motivated by work that connects people around a bigger purpose, we’d love to hear from you!

Join us: https://redefinealliance.org/job-opening/illinois-ecosystem-manager/

Moms (in all the ways that role can look and feel) carry an extraordinary combination of strength, compassion, adaptability, and determination.

These are not just parenting strengths. They are some of the most valuable skills in the workplace. Yet too many moms, especially those navigating systemic barriers to employment, continue to be overlooked by traditional hiring systems.

That’s why employment social enterprises (ESEs) matter. Across the country, these mission-driven businesses are creating jobs, providing support, and building workplaces where all people can grow, lead, and thrive.

This , we’re celebrating the ESEs that create new pathways and possibilities for moms in the workplace.

Central Valley — we’d love to see you on May 12!

Join us for CA RISE Discovery Day, — a half-day event to welcome the second CA RISE cohort and explore what it takes to launch an employment social enterprise (ESE). ESEs are revenue-generating businesses that create paid jobs and support for people facing barriers to employment, and California is home to a thriving community of ESEs.

On the agenda:
➡️ What employment social enterprises are and why they work
➡️ What we’ve learned about building pathways to quality jobs across California
➡️ What’s new in CA RISE 2.0 and how you can get involved
➡️ Optional hands-on workshop to explore if launching an ESE is right for your org — no business idea needed

If you’re part of the ecosystem working to expand economic opportunity, we’d love to see you there.

Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/977f00ab-d531-4ea5-ab20-2da23e4708c1/register

𝘊𝘈 𝘙𝘐𝘚𝘌, 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘣𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass has just issued an Executive Directive to expand second chance hiring — opening pathways to employment for people with justice system experience.

This is great news for LA! And this Directive has the opportunity to build on what’s already working. For over a decade, LA: RISE and a thriving network of regional employment social enterprises (ESEs) have connected thousands of Angelenos facing systemic barriers to paid work, training, and long-term employment — a proven model that works.

Programs like LA:RISE mean LA doesn’t have to start from scratch. This region has already built one of the most effective second chance employment systems in the country. By connecting with LA:RISE, we can advance even further towards an economy that works for all Angelenos!

Read our latest blog → https://redefinealliance.org/news/los-angeles-executive-directive-20-eses-are-las-proven-fair-chance-hiring-solution/

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the mother figures in our lives — the women who work tirelessly for their families, their communities, and themselves.

Honor them with a gift that reflects that same strength.

Our Social Enterprise Shop Guide features mission-driven businesses across the country creating pathways to work, stability, and new beginnings. Every product in these shops is made by people who are overcoming systemic barriers to success.

The best gifts don’t just say thank you, they create ripple effects of good.

Explore the full Shop Guide to find a gift that gives back: https://redefinealliance.org/social-enterprise-shop-guide/