Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs • Hacker News Board

Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs

#111

Post by david38 » Sat, Oct 09, 2021, 3:32 AM UTC

moksly wrote: post #61

gatlin wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The single best tool for rehabilitation, for the convict and the society around them, is meaningful activity. People hurt each other for reasons that are often as sympathetic as they are ultimately intolerable. I think it's wonderful that you had a great experience and shared it because the stigma needs to go. The inclination to follow the law may be tangentially related to a basic ability to follow directions, grant…

I think it’s just a really hard nut to crack. Because even if you remove the bias and stigma, corporations are at their core, risk adverse. I’ve met these people in the public sector where we have policies in place to employ the people who are hard to employ and focus on not discriminating people because of what they bring. But the fact that we have those policies and that focus speaks a lot about how hard of an issu…

This is why the solution is for a background check to report “ok” for a standard job, but “no” for another type of job based on the crime. Companies can never do it because they open themselves up to lawsuits.

Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs

#112

Post by scottie-atl » Sun, Oct 10, 2021, 9:45 PM UTC

nomdep wrote: post #8

Are developers the new blue-collar workers? I haven’t seen a similar program for aspiring lawyers, doctors or accountants. Aren’t we too eager to commoditize the profession?

I would love to become a doctor, I was an EMT before I was incarcerated. No medical institution would ever take on the liability of hiring me. Legal is very much the same way, the board can deny you licensure based on your "moral character."

Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs

#113

Post by scottie-atl » Sun, Oct 10, 2021, 9:53 PM UTC

xamolxix wrote: post #76

ThrowTeenFelon wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not alone! It's going to take a movement to raise awareness about felons not being a Protected Class, and the legalized-discrimination that implies. The way I usually phrase it is: "What would you do if you were black/hispanic/asian and someone said: 'Yeah there's nothing technically WRONG with you as an applicant. 'But we just don't really house/hire YOUR KIND around here. Just policy, nothing personal, sorry…

You are conflating "the way you are born" with "something you've done" e.g. something you can't choose with something you can.

People from lower socioeconomic statuses are the majority of criminal convictions, especially with the trash public defender system.

Have you ever been so hungry that you literally had no choice in the moment between blacking out from low blood sugar or shoplifting? It's a very traumatizing experience, my time as an Emergency Medical Technician had less effects on me than abject poverty did.

Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs

#114

Post by klik99 » Mon, Oct 11, 2021, 1:45 PM UTC

twof wrote: post #102

klik99 wrote: post #78

Has anyone done a mentor program like this? Or even this?

As a mentor or mentee? I'm mentoring for them right now. AMA.

As a mentor - I signed up to show interest and will attend an info session - just curious about the process and time investment - is it typically "bootcamp" type of coding - full stack, web stuff? And if you do weekly sessions with someone, is it more reacting and giving advice/direction? Are they typically learning through other program and need some extra 1-on-1 time? Or are you taking a more active role in education? Thanks!

Re: Underdog Devs: supporting formerly incarcerated and disadvantaged aspiring devs

#115

Post by IvanaSays » Tue, Oct 12, 2021, 2:15 AM UTC

ggfdh wrote: post #100

IvanaSays wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How important is that? What kind of detail would you want to know? Are you afraid of misclassification or missing out on someone, or...?

Stop riding my ass, Ivana.

I was genuinely curious as I am often involved in writing for websites, including on D&I issues, so it's helpful to know what kind of information is needed, that's all. I don't think I deserved this comment. Cheers.