Checkr chats with Stacey Putka, Executive Director at Breakthrough, on the organization's mission and vision to prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reentry, plus best practices for employers to start fair chance hiring. Breakthrough is a Colorado-based 501c3 non-profit that helps people who have been incarcerated redefine their futures and embrace new possibilities while radically altering the community’s perception of the incarcerated population. Stacey Putka, Executive Director at Breakthrough, shares her personal journey into working with individuals in the justice system and how she came to lead an organization dedicated to reentry support. The Challenge Program is Breakthrough's eight-month in-prison education program that covers four major buckets of content: entrepreneurial mindset, reentry preparation, job readiness training, and character development. Stacey emphasizes the importance of building empathy and soft-skills in her programs, as participants often struggle with feeling seen and valued by their community. The organization also offers a Fair Opportunity Employer Program to engage employers and educate them on best practices for hiring individuals with criminal histories. Employers can benefit from hiring fair chance talent through improved job satisfaction, reduced turnover rates, and increased access to tax credits and other benefits. Stacey invites the audience to get involved with Breakthrough by volunteering or spreading the word about the organization's mission.