MILWAUKEE — It's often a roadblock for former prisoners trying to find work and stay out of trouble - they lack job training skills.
A new law signed by President Trump aims to help. In an exclusive interview, TODAY'S TMJ4's Charles Benson talked with the President's son-in-law and senior advisor about the program and how it's working in Milwaukee.
Kushner joined Senator Ron Johnson at Milwaukee's Joseph Project, a Central City faith-based organization that helps ex-cons find work and learn new job skills.
Chelcee Winters Crawford is a graduate of the program. "Any opportunity that opens up, if you want it, take it and grab it. I started in production and now I'm in quality control."
The roundtable discussion focused on how to create more opportunities to match former inmates who want to work, with local employers who need more workers.
The First Step Act, signed by President Trump and backed by Democrats and Republicans, gives federal inmates more opportunity for early release and job training.
The hope is more states, like Wisconsin, will create similar criminal justice reform options.
"What did you hear from some of the people in the program today, that you'll take back to say here's how it can be improved?" Charles Benson asks.
"Lots of good suggestions today," said Kushner. "The first thing I'll say about the program is that it's working."
Johnson and Kushner believe programs like the Joseph Project can be scaled or copied to create more opportunities.
Kushner is well-aware Milwaukee has one of the highest incarceration rates for African Americans in the country.
"The policies that have been in place here for a long time have not been working and it's time to try new things," said Kushner. "President Trump has brought a fresh approach, new ideas and these successes are starting to turn the tide."
