The IURA Board meeting held on March 8, 2025, focused on the progress and funding needs of the Beyond the Box initiative, aimed at improving employment opportunities for justice-involved individuals in Ithaca, New York. The meeting began with a discussion led by Paula, who emphasized the importance of securing additional funding to present a clear financial picture to potential employers involved in the initiative.

Paula highlighted the promising commitments from various local employers, including Reach Medical, Gimme Coffee, United Way, Tompkins County Workforce Development, and Cornell University Dining. She noted that these partnerships were fostered during a summit held on February 13, which generated significant interest in the initiative.

The board discussed how success would be measured, focusing on key metrics such as a 10% increase in hiring rates for justice-involved individuals and improved retention rates among these hires. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance workplace culture through tailored training programs and to achieve better workplace inclusion scores, as assessed through employee surveys.

During the question-and-answer segment, board members inquired about the impact of potential funding reductions on the program. It was noted that the initial pilot received $37,000 from the Tompkins County Human Services Committee, but the current project scope requires more substantial financial support. The team expressed intentions to pursue further fundraising efforts, including outreach to the Legacy Foundation, to sustain the initiative. However, they acknowledged that reduced funding might necessitate scaling back the program to work with fewer employers.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the critical need for additional funding to ensure the success of the Beyond the Box initiative, which aims to create lasting change in the local employment landscape for justice-involved individuals. The board plans to continue discussions on funding strategies and employer engagement in future meetings.