Today, Virgin Hotels CEO James Bermingham will take the stage at the company’s Positive Justice event to announce Virgin Hotels’ participation in Unlock Potential (UP), a groundbreaking hiring program designed to provide career opportunities for young adults most at-risk of becoming involved in the justice system.

"As business leaders, we have a responsibility to take action – to not only improve the lives of individuals, but to make our communities safer and better places to live, work, and do business,” said Bermingham. “Through Unlock Potential, we can help create employment pathways for at-risk young adults that will strengthen our business and help end the prison pipeline.”

Bermingham will speak alongside a panel of leaders from JP Morgan, Ben & Jerry’s, Indeed, and Virgin’s non-profit foundation Virgin Unite, on how employers across Texas can engage in criminal justice reform – from changing their own hiring practices to advocating for new state policies.

Access to gainful employment is a key determinant in whether someone falls into the justice system. UP companies are committed to advancing equity and social mobility, disrupting the poverty-to-prison pipeline, and inclusively growing their workforces. By working with community-based organizations on the ground to help recruit these young people into their workforces, UP businesses are also looking to tap into diverse and underutilized talent pools. The program was recently named a Top 10 Most Influential Project for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion by Project Management Institute.

Mecca Mitchell, Burlington’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, is pleased that the national off-price retailer will be joining UP. She explains, “we know first-hand how meaningful diversity strengthens our communities and our company. By working to provide real, long-term career opportunities to previously underserved groups, we can grow our workforce inclusively while creating the corporate leaders of the future – with the range of backgrounds and perspectives necessary to thrive.”

Both Virgin Hotels and select Burlington store locations in Dallas will begin to hire young adults, aged 16-24, who are at-risk of entering the prison pipeline and have experienced one or more additional risk-factors for adult incarceration. Virgin Hotels will also recruit UP participants in Nashville and Burlington will also do so in Houston. 

National  participating employers include Ben & Jerry’s, Sam’s Club, Delta Air Lines, and Greyston Bakery. Unlock Potential, funded by Walmart, is a collaborative partnership between the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice and national non-profit Persevere, who are working with community-based organizations to ensure recruits receive wraparound service provision and care necessary to make the most of the career opportunities provided. To learn more, visit www.unlock-potential.org.