Kate Mereand- Aspire to Entrepreneurship
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
Release Date: 03/15/2018
Patterns of Successful Entrepreneurs with Leslie Walton
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
Leslie Walton is the Entrepreneur Success Manager at Determination, Incorporated & the Founder of A Cents of Change where she empowers women to build a better relationship with their money. Leslie is a lifelong entrepreneur who loves helping other people reach their own definition of success. From her wide ranging life experiences, including getting her MBA & starting a catering business with food stamps, Leslie has identified the patterns of successful entrepreneurs that will help you no matter your starting point. Today on the show you will learn how to make goal setting...
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Building Resilience Through Adversity with Ricky Kidd
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
Ricky Kidd spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He lost his appeal 11 times before finally winning and regaining his freedom. During that time, he focused on getting “better, not bitter,” and learned how to not just survive, but to thrive in terrible circumstances. Today on the show, Ricky shares how he turned his resilient spirit into the five keys of resiliency that anyone can use to make it through difficult times: get anchored, get moving, find your energy, access perspective, and live selflessly. These days, Ricky is an author, board member, and a national...
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Creating a vision and a plan for your life with Diamond Fuse
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
When Diamond Fuse got a felony at age 19, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to make anything of her life. That is, until she learned how to take charge of her own destiny through the power of vision boards, positive affirmations, and manifestation. When she made her first vision board in 2012, she didn’t have enough money to fill up her gas tank. By 2016, Diamond owned her own home, had a college degree, and completed everything on her vision board. “I am abundant,” is one of Diamond’s go-to positive affirmations. In this episode, you’ll learn how to cultivate abundance in your...
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Starting a Business After Prison with Sarah Muntean
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
When Sarah Muntean started her first business All American Construction Contractors in 2013, she had recently been released from prison, she was homeless, and not many people in her life believed she could succeed. Through pure grit, and by staying humble and learning on her feet, Sarah grew her business year over year to hundreds of thousands in revenue and was able to hire many people in transition and recovery. Today on the show, Sarah shares her advice for starting a successful business after prison. While she had to learn many lessons the hard way, you can avoid her missteps and...
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Drafts: Latahra Smith, Trinity First Aide & CPR Services
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
"I've turned my pain into purpose." That's Latahra Smith, owner of Trinity First Aide & CPR Services and Executive Director of the KC Freedom Project. After being released from prison, Latahra had to overcome a lot of obstacles to heal relationships with her family, to reset her life with a renewed mindset, and to start her nonprofit and business. Today's conversation is humbling, and Latahra will inspire you to make the most of your blessings and your pain.
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Drafts: Aaron Smith, Escaping the Odds podcast
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
On his podcast “Escaping the Odds,” Aaron Smith interviews second chance entrepreneurs who have started successful businesses: https://anchor.fm/aaronesmith
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Drafts: Ricky Kidd, I Am Resiliency
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
Ricky Kidd is the founder of I am Resiliency, a speaker, an entrepreneur, and a recent exoneree in the state of Missouri. Ricky served 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Today he shares his story, and how he used that time to grow as a man, a leader, and an entrepreneur.
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Drafts: Lamont Carey, Contact Visits and Lacarey Enterprises
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
Lamont Carey is an author and entrepreneur from D.C. who has been featured on HBO's Def Jam Poetry and the tv show The Wire. His journey to successful business owner started after prison when he realized that in order to dream big, he needed to do right by others and make his hustle legit.
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Drafts: Jabari Muhammad, FOI ETC
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
Jabari Muhammad and his wife own FOI ETC. They sell fragrances, oils, and incense at stores and online, and are the creators of the Bari Butter. Jabari honed his entrepreneurial skills on the streets in KCMO, and became the upstanding business man he is today in prison.
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Update: Second Chance Entrepreneurs "Drafts"
Own It: Starting a Business after Prison
Welcome to Own It: Starting a Business After Prison, a podcast where we interview second chance entrepreneurs about what it really takes to start a business after prison. For the next season of the show, we will share the firsthand experiences of formerly incarcerated people who have started successful businesses. These episodes are called "Drafts," and will be rough and full of inspiration and education. Enjoy!
info_outlineThe Aspire to Entrepreneurship program started in Washington DC in 2016. The 6 month program teaches folks coming home from incarceration business skills and helps them launch their ventures.
35 returning citizens have completed Aspire. Out of those 35 graduates: 10 are holding down jobs, 10 are working while pursuing their businesses, and 15 are running businesses that employ 39 people.
And to top it all off, no Aspire graduate has returned to prison. That’s right, a 0% recidivism rate.
For all of us who wish to harness the power of entrepreneurship to support returning citizens, we have a lot to learn from today’s guest, Kate Mereand: https://dslbd.dc.gov/service/aspire-entrepreneurship