In this episode of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast, co-hosts Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel are joined by Thomas Jones ’24, fair employment practice specialist at Cornell. He shares his journey from incarceration to higher education and his current role in helping justice-involved individuals find meaningful employment. 

Faced with two felony convictions, childcare responsibilities and a desire to further his education and secure opportunities in the workplace, Jones’s path to Cornell was anything but easy.

“There was lot of questioning,” Jones admitted. “Is this really going to work out? Am I going to be able to get a professional career? I have not one, but two felony convictions on my record, and employers are looking at that. But even academically, I had many questions. Could I afford my degree? Could I continue to grad school? And on top of all that, we were in the midst of a global pandemic.” 

What kept Jones motivated were four core principles that he lives by: faith, family, fun and focus. These principles guided Jones in earning an associate’s degree while in a halfway house, a bachelor’s degree while working full-time during the day and taking classes full-time at night and eventually a master’s in industrial and labor relations from Cornell. 

“It's easy to lose focus, and it's easy to lose sight of the people who are important to you,” Jones said. “Even when you have your crowd cheering you on and your family supporting you, you still need to connect with that intrinsic side of yourself. What is my faith telling me? How do I take the next steps according to that faith? There are countless things we want to do in life, but when we ground ourselves, that’s when we find the true answers.” 

Today, Jones collaborates with the Restorative Record Project, an online tool developed by the Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative at Cornell ILR. This project helps job applicants with criminal records to create non-traditional candidate profiles that highlight their core competencies, rehabilitative efforts and micro-credentials. 

“The ultimate goal is to get people employed,” Jones explained. “We all struggle in different ways, and regardless of our life experiences, we need income to survive and grow. The Restorative Record Project helps break down barriers and glass ceilings and aims to dispel the myths about justice-impacted individuals. Some people just need a second chance and an opportunity to regain their steps.” 

Jones leaves listeners with a message of hope. 

“If the opportunity isn't there, start from somewhere,” he said. “Explore your mind and your interests. Even the things you may have given up on years ago – reactivate those passions and find your true joy. This is an opportunity to find work that is fulfilling, that benefits others and can help sway and persuade the minds for a better society.” 

Tune in to Episode 92: The Road Back: On Reentry, Work, and Resilience for an inspiring conversation about second chances and building a more inclusive workforce.