An Open Letter from Community-Based Service Providers
You may be aware that the Chicago Transit Authority will end its program to help ex-offenders gain work experience cleaning rail cars and buses on Dec. 31. We received the following “open letter” from the John Howard Association of Illinois this morning, urging that the program be saved.
At Chicago Appleseed, we are strong advocates for community courts, which—among other things—focus on restoration of the community, bridging the gap between communities and courts, and assisting defendants with problems that lead to recidivism. Municipal programs, such as the CTA program which began in 2007, are a vital part of the community courts model. These programs assist ex-offenders with re-entry by teaching job skills and providing a stable work environment and thereby contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners, the stability of our communities and the fairness and efficiency of our justice system.
We hope the City of Chicago, Cook County and their agencies, are able to continue to offer practical assistance for re-entry to ex-offenders, even as our Courts continue to seek alternatives to incarceration.
Dear Allies,
Please find below an open letter to Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308 and the Chicago Transit Authority, which urges them to work together and support the continued existence of CTA’s Apprenticeship Program, an initiative that trains formerly-incarcerated people to clean and maintain public transportation equipment.
Also, if you’re in the Chicago area tomorrow, Father Michael Pfleger, the Senior Pastor at The Faith Community of Saint Sabina, will be holding a rally in support of the Apprenticeship Program. The rally will take place Thursday, December 12 at 12 PM at Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308’s headquarters at 205 West Wacker Drive. If you can, please come and show your support.
John Maki
Executive Director
John Howard Association.
Dear Bob Kelly, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308, and Forest Claypool, President of CTA:
We represent a diverse and broad spectrum of community-based service providers, religious and civic leaders, policy specialists, and advocates united by the principle that formerly incarcerated men and women deserve to have meaningful access to employment opportunities. This principle is not simply one of the essential cornerstones of a fair justice system, but it also promotes strong and safe communities. One of the best and most cost-effective ways to control crime and promote public safety is to ensure that people with criminal records have the ability to create productive lives for themselves and their families.
It is because of our commitment to justice that we write to you today. We understand that the Apprenticeship Program’s existence is in jeopardy.
Since November 2007, this small, but vital Program has worked with Chicago’s most effective community-based providers to select hundreds of formerly incarcerated people and give them true second chances. The Apprenticeship Program teaches participants to clean and maintain service equipment. This work not only provides formerly-incarcerated people with a set of skills and references that they can use to find permanent living wage jobs, including positions at CTA, but it also keeps our public transportation system clean for everyone who uses it.
Because of its success, CTA’s leadership has conveyed to us that they strongly support the Apprenticeship Program and will do what is needed to ensure its future existence, as well they should. The Apprenticeship Program represents the very best of what Chicago is doing to protect public safety by giving people the second chance they deserve.
Likewise, we ask that Amalgamated Transit Union to stand up for justice, public safety, and access to meaningful employment.
Please do not end the Apprenticeship Program.
Sincerely,
The Faith Community of Saint Sabina
The Institute for Metropolitan Affairs, Roosevelt University
The John Howard Association of Illinois
Prison and Neighborhood Arts Project