The Issue

Ban the Box and Fair Chance Hiring Initiatives were intended to help justice-involved individuals get a fair shot at employment. While well-intentioned, these policies often fall short. In many cases, job seekers feel pressure to hide their past, only to be disqualified late in the process. This can leave employers feeling misled—undermining trust before an employment relationship even begins.

Meanwhile, HR departments and risk management teams often serve as the first and final gatekeepers in the hiring process, filtering out applicants with records before hiring managers or executives ever see their qualifications or hear their stories.

Hidden GEMS addresses this problem directly. It puts hiring decision-makers in direct contact with high-potential talent and provides the context necessary for fair, equitable evaluation.

Pencil resting on architectural blueprints, symbolizing untapped skills and the potential of justice-involved professionals in high-level fields.
Worried woman resting her chin on her hand, reflecting the anxiety and uncertainty justice-involved individuals face in traditional hiring processes.
Anonymous man in a suit, sitting alone indoors with clasped hands and head out of frame, representing reflection and potential for second chances.

Our Solution

We are building a web-based clearinghouse for skilled professionals who are justice-involved. The platform will:

  • Allow anonymous profile posting with validated resumes, portfolios, and lived experience.

  • Provide contextual storytelling and optional background narratives.

  • Enable employers to browse and request contact, circumventing automated disqualifiers.

  • Provide pre-screening and support services for both candidates and employers.

  • Empower second-chance hiring without hidden surprises.