Contact: Ramona Rivera-Reno
Phone: (413) 322-7131
Email: rreno@masshireholyoke.org
April 6, 2026
Pre-registration is required for legal assistance. Participants should bring a valid Massachusetts photo ID.
4th Annual Fresh Start CORI Sealing and Expungement Clinic, Fair Chance Job Fair set for May 6 at Basketball Hall of Fame
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A coalition of regional partners, including Western Mass CORE, Community Legal Aid, MassHire Holyoke, the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, and Western New England University School of Law’s Center for Social Justice, will host a free criminal record sealing and expungement clinic and fair chance job fair May 6 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The clinic and job fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 Hall of Fame Ave. The event is free and open to the public.
The event offers individuals with criminal records the opportunity to receive free legal assistance, learn about the record sealing and expungement process, obtain a copy of their CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and connect with employers and community resources committed to fair chance hiring.
A record should not mean a lifetime of blocked opportunities. In the United States, one in three adults has a criminal record, and half of all children have a parent with one. According to Clean Slate Massachusetts, an estimated 523,000 people in Massachusetts are eligible to have their CORIs sealed as of May 2025, yet only about 10% have done so. These barriers continue to limit access to employment, housing and education, underscoring the importance of events like this.
“Criminal records and the stigma and policies attached to them continue to create barriers to opportunity,” said Nicole Hendricks, executive director and co-founder of Western Mass CORE. “Every year, this community event reflects our belief that when we invest in people, we lift entire families and communities. Creating fair access to opportunity makes all of us stronger.”
“Everyone deserves an opportunity to work and build a future,” said Ramona Rivera-Reno, executive director of re-entry and recovery services at MassHire Holyoke. “This event brings together employers committed to fair chance hiring and job seekers who bring talent, resilience and lived experience that strengthen our workforce and communities.”
Additional partners, including the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, will be on-site to support community outreach and connect participants to resources.
For more information or to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/corireg
About the Organizers
Western Mass CORE expands access to higher education for people impacted by incarceration across Western Massachusetts—inside county jails and throughout reentry. The organization provides student navigation and direct support while working to address the systemic barriers that disrupt academic reentry. CORE also builds public awareness, convenes cross-sector leaders, and coordinates collaborative planning to strengthen a regional ecosystem of jail-based higher education and post-release college access.
The MassHire Holyoke Career Center is a nonprofit workforce development organization serving Hampden County and beyond, connecting job seekers and employers through accessible employment and training services. Known for its innovative, customer-centered approach, the center works in partnership with community organizations to support pathways to sustainable employment. Its Reentry & Recovery Program provides specialized support to justice-involved individuals, including job readiness, career navigation, and assistance overcoming barriers to employment.
Community Legal Aid, Inc. (CLA) is the free civil legal aid provider for residents of the five counties of Central and Western Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester). CLA’s CORI/Re-entry work focuses on helping people with criminal records overcome barriers to housing, employment, and other opportunities. The CORI unit is dedicated to combating the civil consequences of the criminal court system.
The Center for Social Justice (CSJ) at Western New England University School of Law advances justice through research, education, advocacy, innovation, and public engagement. Since its founding in 2019, the CSJ has fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, expanded student opportunities in advocacy and pro bono work, and strengthened partnerships with community-based organizations. Through its programs, the CSJ supports innovative scholarship and delivers critical legal services to marginalized, underserved, and low-income communities, working to address the root causes of systemic injustice and build a more equitable and inclusive society.