CHICAGO – Chicagoans reentering the workforce face new challenges, given the record high unemployment rates caused by the pandemic, which is why State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) wants people to be aware of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Second Chance Program.

“The Second Chance Program is exactly that: a second chance,” Van Pelt said. “It provides opportunities for people who have been struggling to find work and for people looking to turn their lives around.”

Through the Second Chance program, professional services such as trainings, education, mentoring and networking opportunities are provided to people returning from prison, victims of abuse and others who have a harder time finding employment.

This holistic approach equips those reentering the workforce with the skills necessary to support themselves, which is a crucial step in decreasing recidivism. Over a thousand Chicagoans have participated in this program, which has become one of the largest reentry programs in the nation.

“When recidivism persists, no one wins,” Van Pelt said. “People reentering the workforce need support. They deserve a chance to provide for themselves and for their families. They deserve to contribute to the economy, rather than taxpayer dollars being spent on their re-incarceration because a lack of opportunity led them back into a life of crime.”

The CTA has hired at least 300 Second Chance participants, while many others have moved on to private-sector jobs.

Job seekers looking to apply for the CTA Second Chance Program or find more information at TransitChicago.com/secondchance.