>>> EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF ILLINOISANS LEAVE INCARCERATION AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REINTEGRATION INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS THEY ENCOUNTER IS FINDING BUSINESSES THAT WILL HIRE THEM.

THE CHICAGO WORK FIRST PARTNERSHIP IS CONNECTING RETURNING CITIZENS WITH BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES WHO NEED WORKERS.

AS PART OF WTTW'S ONGOING INITIATIVE , HE GIVES ON WHY CREATING SMOOTHER LANDSCAPE IS GOOD BUSINESS FOR EVERYONE.

>> MY NAME IS FRANCISCO PEREZ.

RE-ENTRY NAVIGATOR FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.

I AM ONE OF THE CREATORS OF THE PROGRAM .

THE ROAD HOME PROGRAM IS A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE INCARCERATED FROM PRELOAD RELEASE ALL THE WAY TO POST RELEASE.

AND IN RETENTION.

IT IS A YEAR WORTH OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY THAT HAS BEEN INCARCERATED.

EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I DID NOT LET IT MAKE ME.

I DID NOT LET IT DEPICT WHAT I WAS GOING TO TURN OUT IN LIFE.

I USED THAT AND BUILT THE PROGRAM BASED UPON WHAT WE NEED.

WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.

WHAT THE BARRIERS ARE.

EVERYTHING FROM A CAREER COACH TO JOB READINESS COACH.

SOMETIMES IT GETS PERSONAL.

YOU MEET THESE PEOPLE.

YOU ARE FROM THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SAME THING.

THOSE GUYS JUST WANT TO COME HOME AND WORK AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

AND WITH MORE OPPORTUNITY.

COMING HOME AND HAVING A JOB AND SAYING, OKAY, I DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT CORNER AND SELL DRUGS.

I DON'T HAVE TO GO ROB OR STEAL.

I DON'T HAVE TO CUT CORNERS TO DO THINGS.

I HAVE A JOB.

I HAVE SUPPORT.

I HAVE PLENTY OF GUYS I HAVE PUT TO WORK.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO THE PROGRAM THAT ARE OUTSTANDING CITIZENS.

MAYBE THEY JUST MADE A WRONG DECISION.

OR MAYBE THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

MAYBE IT WAS JUST VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE.

BUT HAVING A BACKGROUND IS NOT A REASON NOT TO HIRE SOMEBODY.

RETURNING CITIZENS ARE STILL CITIZENS.

WE ARE THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

IF I DIDN'T TELL YOU GUYS I HAD BEEN LOCKED UP, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW.

WHERE WE ARE AT DOES NOT STOP US FROM WHERE WE ARE GOING.

IN ORDER TO HAVE A PLAN, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A PLAN.

TAKE THE CHANCE.

LOOK AT THE DATA.

SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL HIRING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED OR THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN BENEFIT THEIR COMPANY.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY BENEFITING THEIR COMPANY, THEY ARE BENEFITING THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> WE ALSO MET CAMERON HUCKABEE, WHO IS TRAINING WITH FRANCISCO TO BECOME A RE-ENTRY NAVIGATOR HIMSELF.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE STORY IN TONIGHT'S