Progress Illinois

Rita Allison felt hopeless.

Allison admits that she made some bad choices in her early 20’s, including committing felony retail theft. The offense ultimately led to a conviction, and Allison, now 55, says she has been unable to find steady employment since then due to her criminal record. 

The Bronzeville resident had been employed in the medical records field for years. But Allison said she got that job based on her resume, and didn’t have to provide a criminal history. However, things began to change for her in 2009, when she began looking for new work. Allison told Progress Illinois she was continually passed over for a number of jobs due to her felony record. Her husband, a veteran, receives a pension, but Allison says it isn’t enough to survive. As a result, she has gone without additional income for a period of time, causing her, Allison says, to lose her apartment.

But an upcoming event in Chicago might help Allison and others in her position. The Second Chance Summit, being held September 7 at the University of Illinois-Chicago Forum, will educate those with non-violent class three or four felony convictions on how to get the crimes expunged from their records. Legal volunteers from organizations including the Wiley Resource Center and Cabrini Green Legal Aid will provide free guidance, and members from the Urban Weatherization Initiative, an organization that trains Illinois residents to work in the green industry, will also be on hand to sign up participants for paid trainings.