Conference Presentation, Fireside Chat, Panel
A Conversation with John Legend on the Path to Reentry after Incarceration | Global Conference 2023
Milken InstituteJohn Legend, Conrad Kiechel, Karen Bass, Jonathan Capehart, Sheena Meade, Deepti Rohatgi
- The 26th Milken Institute Global Conference features 130 public sessions with over 900 speakers, with sessions available via live stream and on-demand viewing on the website throughout the event's duration.
- Los Angeles is preparing to host major international events, including the US Open starting approximately 46 days away (the first time in 75 years), the World Cup in 2026, and the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2028.
- A $30 billion capital improvement program is underway to transform LAX into a world-class airport, supported by $7.3 billion in international capital projects invested over the past five years.
- Los Angeles aims to support its economic growth by recruiting small businesses, which account for 50 percent of jobs, while leveraging the Port of Los Angeles, which has ranked number one in the Western Hemisphere for 23 consecutive years and handles nearly 30 percent of U.S. sea imports and exports.
- The administration plans to transition from leasing to purchasing motels to provide permanent interim housing for the estimated 47,000 people living in tents, having already moved 1,200 individuals in 140 days.
- Executive directives have been issued to fast-track housing construction, targeting specific vulnerable groups including formerly incarcerated individuals, youth aging out of foster care, and veterans with benefits exceeding housing limits.
- The Next Chapter Program at Slack for Good aims to scale to 17 companies and 47 apprentices by the end of 2023 while maintaining a 100 percent full-time offer rate for underrepresented individuals in the technology sector.
- Over 48,000 legal barriers and 44,000 occupational licenses currently exclude people with arrest and conviction records, with 94 percent of employers, 90 percent of landlords, and 72 percent of colleges conducting background checks.
- The Clean Slate Initiative has helped pass legislation in six states and projects unlocking second chances for over 14 million people across 50 states in the next six years, with California's legislation expected to clear records for 3 million people.
- John Legend warns that progress on decarceration remains fragile and that increased difficulties for legitimate participation raise the likelihood of recidivism.
- LA is establishing green shipping corridors with international partners in Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo to accelerate decarbonization efforts.
- The city's startup ecosystem comprises nearly 4,000 venture-backed startups, ranking it as the third-largest startup market in the U.S.