>> CHICAGO'S FIRST POET LAUREATE, CONGRATS, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> ABOUT 26,000 PEOPLE LEAVE ILLINOIS PRISONS EACH YEAR AND MANY OF THEM REPORT HAVING TROUBLE EMPLOYMENT WHEN THEY ARE HOME.

THIS WEEK, COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF THE ROAD HOME PROGRAM, WHICH CONNECTS RETURNING RESIDENTS TO FIND A JOB.

AS PART OF THE ONGOING INITIATIVE, FIRST HAND: LIFE AFTER PRISON, HERE IS BUSINESS OWNER DREW DAVIS GIVING US THE LAST WORD ON WHY SHE IS HIRING RETURNING CITIZENS MAKING FOR GOOD BUSINESSES.

>> I AM JIA DAVIS, OWNER OF PURPLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND PURPLE REAL ESTATE CONSULTING.

I SAW THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING HOME WHO WERE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING JOBS.

PEOPLE THAT I KNEW, EXPERIENCES THAT I HEARD OF, JUST SEEING A NEED FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING HOME.

I CHOSE THE WORLD HOME PROGRAM AND THE CHICAGO WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

I STARTED WORKING WITH THEM AND WORKING WITH THEIR PARTICIPANTS AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WORK ACROSS OUR COMPANIES WHO NEVER DID THE JOB BEFORE.

BUT, THEY LEARNED ON THE JOB, AND IT HAS WORKED OUT WELL.

WE NEED EMPLOYEES THAT ARE RELIABLE, THAT ARE DEPENDABLE, THAT COME TO WORK AND DO THE JOB THAT WE ASK.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE.

AND SO, THERE IS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF SAFETY WHEN EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HELPS OUT.

WHY ARE OUR RATES SO HIGH?

ONE OF THE REASONS, PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING EMPLOYMENT.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BUY ON THE OUTSIDE AND THAT IS WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE WORLD HOME PROGRAM.

IT WASN'T JUST STARTING WHEN THEY CAME HOME, IT LITERALLY STARTED INSIDE.

I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER NOT JUST THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOURSELF.

IF YOU ARE IN BUSINESS AND YOU HAVE A NEED, THERE IS A POPULATION TO HELP.

SO, BE OPEN, IF THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS TETHERING YOU FROM HIRING SOMEONE WHO IS A RETURNING RESIDENT, EXCEPT FOR YOUR OWN BELIEF ON WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WILL BE LIKE, DON'T LET THAT DICTATE YOUR EXPERIENCE, IT WILL DENY YOU A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE GET BEHIND PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO RETURN HOME, AND BE PRODUCTIVE IN THEIR RETURN.

THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WINS.

>> COOK COUNTY LEADERS ALSO