You may never be able to go back home, but you can go back to prison.
In January 2016, I helped raise $110,000 to launch the Defy Ventures entrepreneurship program at Donovan State Prison, along with Tanner Harisioglu, Mark Bowles, Tom Talley and a powerful gift from Union Bank. did.
Since then, I have had the pleasure of teaching other programs in prisons and helping some of the graduate entrepreneurs I train to start and get jobs. Also, thanks to Bowles for doing this as well.
I was an active participant in prison programs until COVID-19 shut down these gatherings. The program is back and the first new group presented their personal statements, resumes and business ideas at this event.
Thirty-seven volunteers gathered at the prison for this instructional day. This is no binge drinking in the park for inmates. Three months ago, 95 men signed up to take the course, but now only 39 of them remain in the program. It took some serious effort to get to this point. Participation in the program required a 30-page application. Also, he will be graduating in three months, but I think this group will do their best to reach their goal.
It was Old House Week for me. Some of the prisoners remembered me from before. Although the program has changed a bit, the fundamentals remain the same: life skills, behavior modification, self-image restoration, resume preparation, and interview techniques. This is important for all entrepreneurs, whether they are in prison or not.
I’ve written novels, trained service dogs, been a stunt double in Hollywood, served in the Air Force, developed software, worked in sales, and run a kitchen for 3,000 inmates. I met the men who managed it. And yes, they all made mistakes somewhere. But none of us want to be forever defined by the worst thing we’ve ever done.
Formerly incarcerated people have turned to entrepreneurship as an alternative to low wages and lack of opportunity. The stigma and discrimination against being a “felon” is real.
Damon Phillips, a professor at Wharton University, has conducted research that supports that “formerly incarcerated people, especially black men, are 5 percent more likely to start their own business than the general population.” These are not venture-backed wannabe unicorns, but barbershop, landscaping, cleaning services, and tattoo parlor-type businesses.
One of the strongest themes among these entrepreneurs is their desire to hire people like themselves to create opportunities for the next inmates released.
Phillips’ research “points to the need for further education to develop strong business plans and increase access to capital.” Next, there is the issue of recidivism. “Returnees who become entrepreneurs are much less likely to go back to prison.” It seems simple.
This country certainly has a lot of shots on goal. The United States has the world’s largest prison population, with 1.8 million people behind bars. Consider that the annual cost per inmate in California is $132,000.
Look, I’m not a criminologist. I have no silver bullet solution to the prison-industrial complex challenge. However, many of these men earned associate and advanced degrees while in prison from both the University of California, Irvine and Southwestern University. They are creative and enthusiastic.
Does it really take more than 25 years to reintegrate into society? Are we missing out on talented people who can create jobs, stabilize marriages and families, and create jobs for others?
A final word from Phillips. “Given that nearly one-third of adults have some form of criminal history, wouldn’t providing opportunities for these people improve economic health and public safety?” 1, okay. Look around the room.
The volunteers (just under half of whom were women) probably got more out of the day than the trained entrepreneurs. We were white, educated, employed, healthy, and well-off.
But putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is always educational. Especially if the other person’s shoes are two sizes too small or don’t have enough laces.
I love these people. They make me more human.
Rule No. 810: “Today is a new day.” — Entrepreneur-in-training
Senturia is a serial entrepreneur who invests in startups.Email your ideas neil@unicornhunter.ai.
