EDITORIAL: Jobs of Hope is a terrific organization, but it would not work without the employers' patience

Nov. 29--We admire the people who run Jobs of Hope. The organization changes lives, and we know that wouldn't be possible without the hard work of the small staff who keep it going.

But it's the patient employers who make it work.

Jobs of Hope focuses on recruiting at-risk men, many of them under 25, and getting them ready for the workforce. "At-risk" is a nice way of saying they're troubled cases who may not otherwise find any kind of meaningful employment because no one would want them.

Many are former gang members with criminal records. Jobs of Hope prepares them by teaching them how to do job interviews and live in the real world, which can mean simple things like being good to your fellow coworkers and treating women with respect.

Yet there's only so much Jobs of Hope can do. Some of the workers don't want to change, and many others desire it but don't have the tools to get there. The training helps, but the real work comes from the 16 employers who have partnered with Jobs of Hope.

Our Sunday story profiled a former gangster who received many chances from Mike Trotter, who owns a roofing company. Michael Salazar tested Trotter and his right-hand man, Andy Casarez, many times. Trotter could have fired him after two years of inconsistent and sometimes angry behavior. No one would have blamed Trotter if he did.

Instead, the two gave Salazar one final chance, after the former gangster came back to them and apologized for storming off on a job. Since then, Salazar's been a good employee. More importantly, he's been a good father and husband. Most importantly, he's stayed out of trouble.

Programs such as Jobs of Hope help us with a rocky recidivism rate for prisoners in this country. The hard fact is many who spend a good chunk of time in prison usually go back when they're released. Society isn't kind to those people.

Salazar was never convicted of a felony, so he avoided those long stretches of prison time, but there's no doubt he was headed there. Instead, he's a working contributor to society and raising his son to avoid the same mistakes he made.

This wouldn't be possible without the patience of Trotter and the other employers who partner with Jobs of Hope. We know it's rough at times. But we can't thank them enough for sticking with the people who want to change and just need a little guidance on how to make it happen.

-- The Tribune Editorial Board

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