Why we hire "unemployable" people

By building on the Greyston Bakery’s thirty-year heritage as a model for social enterprise using entrepreneurship to address the issues of generational poverty, President and CEO Mike Brady serves Yonkers, NY as a force for personal transformation and community economic renewal. Greyston is best known for a 24- year relationship of baking brownies for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Mike’s passion for social entrepreneurism and the use of business to solve social issues are fundamental to his work at Greyston Bakery.

Growing up in Yonkers, NY, Dion Drew was exposed to poverty at a young age. While his mother worked full-time, his family still struggled to make ends meet. By age 15, Drew felt a responsibility to support his family so he began selling drugs, ultimately leading to his incarceration. After completing his sentence, Drew was committed to starting a new life but struggled to find work as an ex-convict. He was ultimately hired by the Greystone Bakery in Yonkers, a business known for its “open hiring” process, which creates opportunities for individuals who face barriers to employment. Drew is now a Supervisor at the bakery.