WEBVTT MAYOR BELL SAID RIGHT NOW THERE ARE MORE THAN SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AREA EITHER ON PROBATION OR PAROLE. HE SAYS EMPLOYERS...LIKE THE CITY...NEED TO BE MORE OPEN MINDED ABOUT HIRING PEOPLE WITH A CRIMINAL PAST. JUST LIKE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS... THESE MEN ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB. THE DIFFERENCE IS...THEY SERVED TIME IN PRISON. THAT S WHY THEY COME HERE TO THE DANNON PROJECT. THERE S OTHER WAYS. YOU DON T HAVE TO STEAL, YOU DON T HAVE TO ROB, YOU DON T HAVE TO KILL. THERE S OTHER WAYS TO DO THINGS TO GET UP IN SOCIETY. THE DANNON PROJECT HELPS HUNDREDS EVERY YEAR TRANSITION FROM PRISON...TO SOCIETY. DURING HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS TUESDAY...MAYOR WILLIAM BELL HIGHLIGHTED THE DANNON PROJECT S WORK. HE STRESSED THE NEED FOR FINDING JOBS FOR CONVICTED FELONS. IF WE DON T COME UP WITH WAYS TO ADDRESS GIVING THEM NEW SKILL SETS, PROVIDING THEM JOBS, THEN THEY STAND THE POTENTIAL OF REVERTING BACK TO THEIR OLD WAYS. THE MAYOR ALSO SAID HE SUPPOR BANNING THE BOX. THAT S A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO REMOVE THE BOX ON JOB APPLICATIONS CONVICTED FELONS MUST CHECK. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKE AWAY. ONCE YOU CHECK THAT BOX. A LOT OF EMPLOYERS, THEY JUST, DON T LOOK AT YOU. BOTH MEN AGREE: THE MORE FORMER CRIMINALS IN THE WORKFORCE... THE FEWER WITH TIME TO GET INTO TROUBLE. SO THERE S A STRONG NEED FOR THIS PROGRAM IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE COMING OUT OF PRISON TO KIND OF GET BACK INTO SOCIETY. THE DANNON PROJECT NOT ONLY HELPS EX- FELONS...BUT TROUBLED YOUTH. THEY CALL IT YOUTH BUILD. IT PEOPLE FROM 16-24 WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL OR FACED OTHER CHALLENG TURN THEIR LIFE AROUND. WE RE LIVE AT BIRMINGHAM CITY HALL...