What I learned from hiring hundreds of former inmates | Margo Walsh | TEDxPortsmouth
NOTE FROM TED: TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfMargo Walsh is the founder of MaineWorks, an award-winning staffing company that hires individuals in recovery from addiction and those reentering society after incarceration. In this talk, she shares her deeply personal journey from early sobriety to building a social enterprise that reimagines what it means to give someone a second chance.
With over a decade of experience placing thousands of “unhirable” workers into meaningful jobs, Margo explains why employment is one of the most powerful—and overlooked—tools in the fight against addiction and recidivism. Her story challenges audiences to rethink what makes someone “work-ready” and how businesses can become a force for healing.
Margo Walsh is a thought leader and social entrepreneur who founded MaineWorks, the first felon employment company in the country and the first Maine B Corp. In response to the complexities of reentry and the need to address substance use, Margo later co-founded United Recovery Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and Cecil’s Place Sober Living. A native of Cumberland, Maine, Margo earned a BA in Psychology from Wheaton College. She began her career as a recruiter in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs in New York. In 2010, Margo returned to Maine to raise her children and continue her personal recovery journey. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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