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Transformative Workforce Academy

Connecting Justice-Involved Jobseekers and Second Chance Employers

In turbulent economic times, companies need a workforce that is loyal, hardworking, and increases their bottom line.

With the potential to save companies $3,146 per employee, hiring justice-involved talent promotes self-sufficiency for individuals, success for companies, growth for our economy, and public safety for our region.

Our Misson

Transformative Workforce Academy (TWA) is part of a Saint Louis University interdepartmental collaboration designed to support those most at risk of incarceration in living fruitful, prison-free lives.

SLU’s initiatives engage the whole lifespan, including prevention, in-prison, and reentry services. Through research, information-sharing, and direct services in areas such as education, legal defense, life skills training, and employment placement, SLU seeks to address the root causes of crime by providing support and resources to those who all too often see no alternative.

TWA’s focus is helping those who are justice-involved, especially those recently coming out of prison, find and retain meaningful employment.

Download TWA’s 2023 Impact Report

Get connected with the TWA

Attendees walk through tables at a job fair in SLU's Cook Hall.
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Second Chance Job Fair

Learn how job seekers and employers can connect at the virtual Second Chance Job Fair.

Ariel photo of the St. Louis Arch on a sunny day with skyscrapers behind it.
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St. Louis Region

Learn more about resources available to job seekers and employers in St. Louis.

A student writes in a notebook in the outdoor classroom on SLU's campus
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Readiness Programs

Job seekers can find programs that will help them get hired and stay hired.

Our History

TWA’s focus is helping those who are justice-involved, especially those recently coming out of prison, find and retain meaningful employment. It began its efforts in April 2018 by partnering with the U.S. Attorneys’ Office and federal and state level probation and parole offices to sponsor the inaugural Second Chance Job Fair at Chaifetz Arena.

These efforts continued in 2019, when the Second Chance Job Fair drew 1,000 attendees, including 77 employers committed to looking at candidates holistically, beyond just their criminal record. That same year, TWA expanded on the success of these job fairs by beginning to provide year-round job search assistance to justice-involved individuals.

Since 2020, TWA has been adapting to the digitization of the job search process accelerated by the pandemic. TWA now hosts bi-annual virtual Second Chance Job Fairs, works with job seekers referred by community partners between fairs, and trains employers on best practices for second-chance employment and retention.

In 2022, 201 job seekers and 82 employers participated in TWA job fairs, with more than 100 job seekers referred between fairs.

In 2023, SLU TWA began providing pre-release services to participants in five Missouri Department of Corrections institutions, preparing for their release to and connecting them with employment opportunities in St. Louis.

In 2024, SLU TWA was awarded funding for State expansion by the Missouri Department of Corrections. TWA expanded again, and is now offering services in Kansas, City, Columbia and Springfield.