CleanTurn’s mission is to empower communities by creating an empowered workforce through profitable social enterprises. Profits are reinvested into employment opportunities, training programs and support services for those facing homelessness, incarceration or other barriers to employment.
John Rush founded CleanTurn and She Has a Name with the idea that everyone deserves an opportunity to improve their life. Through these social enterprises, John hopes to give individuals that second chance.
Mission
CleanTurn is on a mission to assist those facing significant barriers to employment find work, break the cycle of dependency and achieve self-sufficiency. They do this through an innovative social enterprise model that creates small businesses-such as demolition and cleaning services-to employ those formerly affected by homelessness, incarceration, human trafficking or domestic violence.
Their vision is to be the national model for socially-focused business. In three years, they’ve created over 300 training and employment opportunities for men and women who have been incarcerated. Furthermore, they developed an impact investing program which helps them tackle cash flow difficulties associated with growth.
They operate out of two properties in Columbus, Ohio and offer general labor and grounds keeping, demolition/deconstruction and janitorial services to commercial clients in the greater Franklinton area.
They recently acquired a 3,000 square foot building from a local contracting firm in Franklinton to expand their headquarters. The space will be utilized for offices, storage facilities and staff shower rooms and lounges.
Since 2012, John Rush - president and CEO of Clean Turn Enterprises - has been on a mission to provide employment opportunities for those facing significant obstacles to employment. His vision is to build a socially-sustainable business that offers sustainable livelihoods to those facing immense difficulties in finding work.
CleanTurn is a well-known brand for providing professional and commercial interior demolition and cleaning services. Additionally, they take great pride in their community involvement, working closely with organizations that share their values.
To this end, they’ve designed a variety of programs that assist those facing significant employment obstacles, such as career advancement training, professional development and financial literacy classes, legal advice and housing options. Furthermore, they strive to promote an encouraging workplace atmosphere.
CleanTurn’s success is dependent upon their employees and community partners. For instance, they’ve joined forces with Columbus Police Department and local schools to provide job training in crime prevention and safety to high school students.
Fair Chance Employment
Fair chance hiring is a recruitment strategy that gives individuals an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and qualifications before asking about their criminal history. Businesses can eliminate discrimination and boost the quality of their talent pool by including former convicts in their selection process.
According to a survey by NELP, nearly 70 million Americans have a criminal record and face immense employment barriers. To combat this problem, NELP is working hard to expand fair chance hiring laws and policies across America so that no one is denied employment due to their criminal history.
Therefore, more employers are moving away from exclusionary hiring practices that discriminate against people with criminal records. This is beneficial for both employees and the communities they work in.
In San Francisco, for instance, the City’s Fair Chance Ordinance prohibits employers from asking about a candidate’s criminal arrest or conviction record until they extend them an offer of employment. New York’s Fair Chance Act similarly prevents employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with criminal histories and requires them to not automatically disqualify those individuals from employment until an individualized analysis has been performed under the Fair Chance Process.
Although these changes are welcomed, it’s essential to remember that there are still some limitations associated with its implementation. For instance, it remains uncertain how this law will impact FINRA-regulated businesses. Thus, consulting an attorney before implementing your policy is recommended so you have legal backing for this type of screening.
Another issue with relying solely on criminal background checks is they can often be inaccurate and contain data about people who have not actually committed any crimes. Furthermore, the American justice system often discriminates against race and national origin; hence it’s essential to account for any potential biases when conducting criminal background checks. For this reason, using an independent third-party service like a criminal background check service that provides accurate and up-to-date data on criminal history would be preferable.
Building Sustainable Livelihoods
The quest for a better tomorrow has often been linked with conservation of natural resources. But the challenge has been how best to support people as they transition away from reliance on one activity (often agriculture) towards multiple income-generating activities. Unfortunately, attempts at livelihood enhancement and diversification have often been supply-driven rather than taking into account factors that support or impede sustainable development.
CleanTurn has been leading the charge on this front, creating a model of entrepreneurship with purpose and an emphasis on social responsibility. Their model offers stable employment and related support services for those re-entering society through commercial demolition and cleaning services; this success has spawned an ecosystem of like-minded organizations throughout central Ohio. The goal is to use these existing strengths to develop novel models of business engagement that ensures a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
At the forefront of it all was CleanTurn’s multifaceted collaboration with numerous local and national organizations such as Columbus Works, Ohio Means Jobs Columbus-Franklin County, Franklin County Public Health, Fortuity, IMPACT Community Action, Columbus Metropolitan Library Job Help Center and Columbus Building Trades. Through this effort we have generated considerable momentum around our model and its many variants which will serve to fuel our continued expansion in Central Ohio.
Supporting Employees
CleanTurn provides employment, training and support services for men and women affected by incarceration or drug use. Instead of relying on grants or philanthropy, they have created a self-sustaining business model that has created over 500 jobs while generating over $200 million dollars in community impact through 50 partner organizations.
CleanTurn offers commercial cleaning, interior demolition and bulk removal to residential home owners, property managers, construction companies, general contractors, small businesses and non-profits in Columbus area. Additionally, their sister company She Has A Name Cleaning Services specializes in helping women who have been affected by domestic violence or human trafficking.
Many people struggle to secure and maintain employment due to an inability to find a job with regular hours and an established work environment. Not having reliable income can exacerbate other issues like mental health, housing, financial security, relapses and addiction.
CleanTurn has provided employment to over 900 individuals affected by imprisonment and/or drug use in five years, creating a sustainable business model that has created more than 500 employment opportunities and served over 1,000 customers.
For those formerly incarcerated or drug addicted, a job can provide many advantages - an income, housing, the opportunity to take care of their family and being part of a team. They will gain the assurance necessary to make changes and start over with confidence.
At CleanTurn, employees are treated with respect and given the chance to share their story and receive honest feedback on how they can improve performance and be better supported. Furthermore, employees receive career advancement training, professional development classes, financial literacy classes, legal advice and housing assistance.
CleanTurn prioritizes safety above all else, using protective gloves and hospital-grade disinfectants when performing their cleaning duties.
CleanTurn takes great steps to guarantee the safety of their workers by having a policy that requires employees to report any relapse, even if they’ve been in recovery for years. Furthermore, CleanTurn will offer employees the chance to attend rehab programs and receive necessary support in order to succeed.
In Conclusion
CleanTurn is a prime example of a socially-focused business that aims to create a sustainable future for all. By providing employment, training, and support services for individuals affected by homelessness, incarceration, or other barriers to employment, CleanTurn is breaking down employment barriers and helping individuals take control of their lives. Their innovative social enterprise model offers a path to self-sufficiency and stability that is desperately needed in many communities across the United States. With a commitment to fair chance hiring, community involvement, and employee support, CleanTurn is leading the way in creating clean jobs that benefit both employees and their communities.
As society grapples with issues of inequality and injustice, it is heartening to see businesses like CleanTurn stepping up to tackle these challenges. By prioritizing social responsibility and sustainability, CleanTurn is demonstrating that businesses can be profitable while positively impacting their communities. As we move forward, it is important to continue supporting businesses like CleanTurn that are committed to creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
To find out more about CleanTurn, visit their: