Justice Champion Spotlight: Tatiana Begault
What drove your interest in mental health and working with the community in New Orleans?
The innate inquisitive nature and the desire to decode the inextricable relationship between mind and behaviours. From a very early age I have developed a heightened sense of justice. I wanted to better understand what leads to the development of a stronger, more resilient community and how I can become an active participant of a solution driven development. I came to discover that advocacy was the key to better understanding the needs of others and find others that, like me, believe in collective effort. New Orleans has been impacted by a succession of natural and manmade negative historical events, from hurricanes and floods to massive incarcerations and social disparity. A statistic such as “over 680 individuals in prison for every 100,000 residents”, is a hard number to overlook. Social justice and social inequalities have helped to create negative events and we certainly need better planning. We ought to do better, individually, and collectively.
What made you decide to help justice-impacted individuals re-enter society? What made you decide to work in this space?
Simple! The justice-impacted community is the part of the general population that has endured many of the consequences of a disrupted system with its systematic inequalities that impact everyone indirectly and directly. The more we learn about the system and its deficiencies the better we can make corrections and collaborate for an improved society that gives everyone a fair chance. No one wants to be described or characterized for their worst day or their worst mistake. I want every child, every adult, and every employer to have the social and emotional skills to promote an efficient reintegration, that directly encourages our families across the city and state to become safer, healthier and stronger throughout a generational journey.
Why is it so important that we remove barriers for people with criminal convictions and arrest records?
The Re-Entry field of work requires you to fine tune the mind (logic) and emotions (feelings) to identify gaps and correct inequalities by promoting inclusion and collaboration through understanding the value of diversity as a foundation to grow. As we navigate Re-Entry we can identify barriers that ultimately have a global impact, criminal records are by far one of the leading causes of the social stagnation. Let me explain; small identifiable items, like an ID or a driver’s license are taken for granted by many of us, however, for our Re-Entry brothers and sisters, it means that potentially, for a man or a woman are unable to apply for better employment, that leads to a better income, better support system, better nutrition, better relational outreach and so on and so forth. The individual wins by having direct access to better resources, and the community wins by having a safer society. Louisiana’s high incarceration rate demonstrates that barriers promote recidivism, which leads to high cost and emotional distress. It’s seldom that we sincerely stop to contemplate the incredible positive impact we can create by removing barriers from those who need the most. It’s a socially conscious and fiscally responsible matter to all of us.
What role do you think businesses play in providing meaningful second chances? How can they have a measurable impact?
Businesses are the driving force of our economy and consequently the largest platform for advocacy. The humanization of the hiring process is the process in which we value the human behind the story, allowing the employer to define the employee by their recovery journey and not by their past transgressions. Second chance employers provide opportunities at the individual level with the ability to support a more inclusive community. Businesses across the city and surrounding areas have risen to the occasion and implemented personalized interview processes that allow for qualitative change, their positive impact is measurable, we can witness the reduce rate of recidivism and the increase in family reunification.
Many employers are now well equipped with the ability and the desire to become an agent of a positive change. Businesses have become the strongest and wisest of the advocates for an improved community. Businesses understand the power and the responsibility they hold to create and sustain a safer community for generations to come.
What advice do you give to companies who are interested in hiring, and looking to create a fairer and more equitable society through hiring and other activities? What first steps should they take? What are some of the biggest challenges?
To all companies interested in hiring second chances, you should be able to educate your team leaders and yourself in fair hiring practices and how to get involved in a more humane hiring process. Learn more about local and state-wide statistics, face the problems head on, check data and see the level of positive impact you will have by hiring community members waiting for the opportunity to serve your company. Inequalities happen, the better understanding we have the more we can redefine the role we can play. Either we are the solution or part of the problem.
Why do you think some employers are reluctant to hire people with criminal records? How would you respond to those reservations?
The employers hesitant to hire second chances are ultimately employers that don’t fully grasp their responsibility within the community they intend to serve, more likely they are not in touch with their community members needs and wants. Second chance hiring is the best and most efficient way to give back to the community and build up social resiliency. It’s fiscally responsible and the most compassionate way to restructure the hiring process, in addition to collectively providing comfort to the social structure by decreasing inequalities, reducing recidivism, and increasing a loyal workforce.
Federal tax incentives motivate some companies and are applicable nation-wide and they can be utilized by small and larger organizations. If this is not enough, there are non-profit organizations that give training to second chances individuals so your company can benefit from having quality and skilled individuals eager to assist your growth.
We are most often hesitant when we don’t know a subject, but the problem can be solved by creating business plans that includes a diverse range of employees and second chances individuals should be in that plan! You can also reach out to individuals like me and others across the nation that can further explain the financial, social and emotional impact your company has within your community. Businesses are not alone; government and non-government agencies are more than willing to give you the support you need to succeed in the hiring process. There are many ways to collaborate and improve your organization and hiring second chances is one of them!
What steps can be taken at a policy level to break down barriers for re-entry? What reforms should businesses support?
Advocacy! Remember, I mentioned before that advocacy it is the key to social resiliency. If strength is in numbers, then the voice of every business should be heard. Your support to initiatives such as Clean Slate will streamline the hiring, retention, and credentialing of second chances individuals. Legislation has the ability to solidify what data has shown to be crucial to the development of our community. The HB604 bill in Louisiana was a glimpse of hope. However, with the support of business we are able to showcase the positive impact of second chance hiring. Legislation gives the business the platform to do conscious hiring. Therefore, the support and encouragement of all business in legislative efforts it is what we need to move forward in a more diverse, inclusive and safer community.