G.R.O.W. in Action: How Support and Fair Chance Hiring Helped Odell Succeed

Odell was introduced to Pioneer Human Services’ Guiding Reentry Opportunities for Workforce Development (G.R.O.W.) services by his case manager at the Spokane Residential Reentry Center (SRRC) that Pioneer also operates. He had not held a job in several years as he was incarcerated, and Odell had very minimal technical/ computer skills. This proved to be a barrier to a successful reentry back into the community because creating resumes, navigating job searches, and applying for work are almost exclusively done online.

Our G.R.O.W. services are designed to help individuals with a conviction history gain the skills they need to find and keep a job. The program focuses on overcoming employment barriers and building essential skills. After completing the program, graduates receive up to one year of support from our case management team. This includes help with staying employed and advancing their career.

Individuals like Odell who are living in a federal residential reentry center are not allowed to access the WorkSource digital literacy classes. Odell’s case manager referred him to G.R.O.W.’s services and staff stepped in to help fill his gap. “We created a tailored resume around former jobs Odell had held that we pulled from his employment security report, as well as using his experience he gained working at jobs in the prison system,” said Kendra Ooms, reentry case manager at G.R.O.W. Kendra added, “Odell and I also had an in-depth chat about what he wants to do for a job/career so we could job search more effectively for positions that would hold his interest and align with his skills.”

During this process, Odell, faced a major challenge during his job search. In his initial interview with Lowes, he ran into a barrier. After answering a few questions on his background he was told he could not be hired. Understandably, this was discouraging for Odell, but it also highlighted the importance of advocacy and partnership in ensuring fair hiring practices.

Because of Pioneer’s established collaboration with Lowe’s in Spokane through the Bright & Blue Futures program, Odell had access to additional support. The program is Lowe’s major initiative focused on workforce development, particularly for skilled trades and second-chance hiring.

Kendra shared, “When the situation was brought to our attention, we immediately reached out to our program liaison. She acted quickly, involving Lowe’s legal team and ensured us that Odell would be given a fair chance. Within days, Odell was invited back for another interview—this time with the proper process in place.”

Kendra continued, “Odell’s resilience, combined with the strength of our partnership, paid off. He successfully completed the second interview and was hired. Today, he is not only employed but received a recent raise and is moving forward with a sense of stability and security.”

Odell’s story demonstrates the impact of G.R.O.W.’s team work:

• Advocacy matters – Students know G.R.O.W. will stand with them when challenges arise.
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• Partnerships create pathways -Pioneer’s collaboration with Lowe’s ensured accountability and fairness.
• Success is achievable – Odell’s hiring shows that with persistence and support, participants can secure meaningful employment and build a brighter future.

Odell’s journey is a reminder that success doesn’t always come in dramatic leaps—it often comes through steady progress, fair opportunities, and the assurance that someone is in your corner.