April is Second Chance Month, a time when we celebrate those in our communities who are committed to helping people make the most of their second chances following incarceration. As President Biden recently stated in his Proclamation on Second Chance Month, 2021:
“America’s criminal justice system must offer meaningful opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation. After incarcerated individuals serve their time, they should have the opportunity to fully reintegrate into society. It benefits not just those individuals but all of society, and it is the best strategy to reduce recidivism. During Second Chance Month, we lift up all those who, having made mistakes, are committed to rejoining society and making meaningful contributions.“
President Biden, March 31, 2021
We are thrilled to spotlight one of our outstanding Employment Partners – Bozard Ford Lincoln of St. Augustine – for being an Operation New Hope Second Chance Supporter. Creating opportunities to realize second chances requires support from employers who care about the community, and we thank Bozard for hiring our Ready4Work clients.
Bozard’s motto is Driven to Inspire. Their team takes great pride in building long-lasting customer relationships, and they are committed to serving our community. They “work with open minds and open hearts, knowing everyone we encounter has a story we may not know yet.” This open-minded commitment translates to all levels of the organization.
We sat down with Duane Gibbs, the Facilities Manager at Bozard Ford Lincoln, who has hired several of our Ready4Work graduates, to talk about what Second Chances mean to him, and here’s what he said.
“We have a strong community outreach here at Bozard, and our support of Operation New Hope is an extension of that. We give folks a clean slate when they work here, and we are super satisfied with our partnership with Operation New Hope because we love seeing people succeed. When people feel good about work, then they are far less likely to go back to the hard way of living.”
“It’s also mutually beneficial. When we can tap Operation New Hope for talent, it gives us an opportunity to bypass traditional hiring process of posting the position, sifting through hundreds of resumes, and setting up multiple interviews. Your Ready4Work program vets the candidates for us, and your clients are some of the hardest workers we have on our team. Take Kory for instance – he’s our newest Ready4Work hire, and he’s off to a great start.” (Read Kory’s Voices of Hope story here.)
“Bozard is a great company to be a part of. The leadership puts employees first and invests in our team. We like to have fun at work, and we all support each other. That’s our culture, and people really seem to like it.”
“We are happy and proud to partner with Operation New Hope. Everybody needs a second chance!”
Thanks Bozard for being a company that cares about our community and for being a Second Chance Supporter!
Does your company want to become a Second Chance Supporter? Contact Operation New Hope today and become one of our valued Employment Partners.
We provide support, life and job skills training for people affected by the criminal justice system and place them in employment that offers a sustainable quality of life.
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1830 North Main Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32206
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