Hello, my name is Ingrid Gonzalez, and I am an intern at HIRE, completing my master’s in social work. I proudly support HIRE—and I hope you will too—because this organization is dedicated to helping system-involved individuals who have been overlooked, stigmatized, and denied opportunities due to past mistakes. As someone with lived experience, I understand how often people with felonies are judged, dismissed, and discriminated against. But we are not our past. We are human beings who deserve dignity, respect, and a second chance. At HIRE, we welcome system-involved individuals with open arms. We provide case management, therapy, and employment support, all with the belief that each person has potential, purpose, and the ability to create positive change. Instead of defining people by their records, we see humanity. We recognize that many of us made choices shaped by trauma, survival, or lack of support—stories that are too often ignored. I’m asking for your support today. Please consider sharing our page or making a donation—no amount is too small. Your contribution directly supports individuals impacted by the system who are working hard to rebuild their lives. Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for helping us uplift and empower our community.
The Future Is Working — And You Can Help Make It Possible
Last year, *Edward came to HIRE after spending nearly a decade incarcerated. When he returned home, he did everything he was supposed to do—he applied for job after job, hoping someone would give him a chance to start over. But every application ended the same way: rejection.
Not because he lacked motivation. Not because he lacked skills.
But because of a checkbox.
Through HIRE’s Jobs Not Jails program, he found something different: support, mentorship, and an employer willing to look beyond his past. Today, he’s employed full-time, supporting himself and giving back to others navigating reentry.
His story is not unique. In 2025 alone, HIRE served more than 1,026 youth and adults, many of whom came to us unemployed, unstably housed, and determined to rebuild their lives through work.
This Future Is Working Giving Day on April 2, 2026, we’re raising $30,000 to expand programs that connect people with real opportunities—job training, mentorship, and employment pathways that strengthen families and communities.
Thanks to generous partners, CalOptima, Bomel Construction, and Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, up to $7,500 will be matched, meaning your gift can go twice as far.
Every dollar helps someone move from surviving to thriving.
No donation is too small.
Together, we can ensure that more people leaving incarceration find what they’re truly seeking: a chance to work, contribute, and build a future.
Join us on April 2 and help prove that when opportunity meets determination, the future really is working.