1 00:00:00,833 --> 00:00:03,533 When you are released from prison, you're free. 2 00:00:03,533 --> 00:00:06,600 But all too often it feels as though you're carrying 3 00:00:06,666 --> 00:00:09,066 the weight of the world on your shoulders. 4 00:00:10,166 --> 00:00:12,766 The roadblocks to success can be enormous, 5 00:00:12,833 --> 00:00:15,466 unforgiving, even cruel. 6 00:00:15,700 --> 00:00:19,666 It is not uncommon for hopelessness and desperation 7 00:00:19,733 --> 00:00:23,833 to settle in, but sometimes in the darkest hours, 8 00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:27,866 the power of an idea can take hold. 9 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,833 That's when returning citizens stand up and take 10 00:00:31,900 --> 00:00:34,100 the future into their own hands. 11 00:00:34,166 --> 00:00:37,933 Take an idea and create their own businesses, 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:39,433 their own opportunities. 13 00:00:39,500 --> 00:00:43,600 Take a chance to shape their own destinies. 14 00:00:43,666 --> 00:00:45,733 They all have one thing in common, 15 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:50,033 the courage to bet on themselves. 16 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,533 Returning citizens is made possible by 17 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:36,900 The United Way, 18 00:01:36,966 --> 00:01:39,833 fostering the success of those who, 19 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:42,833 as they return to our neighborhoods remain a 20 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:47,500 largely untapped resource, the formerly incarcerated. 21 00:01:47,700 --> 00:01:49,466 Waterman II Fund of the 22 00:01:49,533 --> 00:01:52,666 Philadelphia Foundation at the recommendation of 23 00:01:52,733 --> 00:01:56,500 David Haas, The Independence Foundation. 24 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:04,533 There's a jailhouse saying, do the time, 25 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:06,333 don't let the time do you. 26 00:02:06,966 --> 00:02:12,300 Alone, in his cell, Darrell Alston drew on inspiration 27 00:02:12,366 --> 00:02:16,866 and with no formal training in drafting or design, 28 00:02:16,933 --> 00:02:23,066 created this blueprint for a shoe and an enterprise was born. 29 00:02:23,433 --> 00:02:26,333 I feel like I've died and gone to sneaker heaven. 30 00:02:26,633 --> 00:02:27,600 Where, where are we? 31 00:02:27,666 --> 00:02:30,066 We're at Bungee Brands headquarters. 32 00:02:30,133 --> 00:02:31,866 Bungee. What's Bungee mean? 33 00:02:31,933 --> 00:02:33,266 Well, I was dealing with a lot of things. 34 00:02:33,333 --> 00:02:36,000 I, I was a recording artist when I first started my, 35 00:02:36,066 --> 00:02:37,366 my career as a teenager. 36 00:02:37,433 --> 00:02:39,200 And I got into a little bit of trouble. 37 00:02:39,266 --> 00:02:40,966 And I was just thinking about how every time 38 00:02:41,033 --> 00:02:43,400 I would get to a place that I thought that I made it, 39 00:02:43,466 --> 00:02:45,766 I would get in trouble and I would go all the way 40 00:02:45,833 --> 00:02:47,233 back down to the bottom of the ladder and I would 41 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:48,266 keep going up and down. 42 00:02:48,333 --> 00:02:49,500 Like a bungee jumps. Yeah. 43 00:02:49,566 --> 00:02:50,933 It just reminded me of a bungee jumps. 44 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,500 That's why I, I coined the name bungee. 45 00:02:53,566 --> 00:02:56,133 And, and, and the trouble included a couple of bits 46 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:57,000 in, in prison. 47 00:02:57,066 --> 00:02:57,633 Yeah. 48 00:02:57,700 --> 00:02:58,866 What was that like? 49 00:02:58,933 --> 00:03:01,133 Well, from when I first started, 50 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,800 I never really wanted to try to do the situation where 51 00:03:03,866 --> 00:03:04,933 I was committing crimes. 52 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,433 I really wanted to try to make money so I can create 53 00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:07,466 my own business. Yeah. 54 00:03:07,533 --> 00:03:10,466 And I don't know why I decided to go that route. 55 00:03:10,533 --> 00:03:12,266 Because I could have went and got a loan, 56 00:03:12,333 --> 00:03:13,666 or I could have went and got an investor. 57 00:03:13,733 --> 00:03:15,200 I could have done plenty of things to be able to get it 58 00:03:15,266 --> 00:03:16,833 going, but I didn't have the knowledge of it. 59 00:03:16,900 --> 00:03:19,800 So I just knew only one way to be able to do it, 60 00:03:19,866 --> 00:03:21,033 I'm not asking for anything. 61 00:03:21,100 --> 00:03:22,500 I'm going to go out and I'm going to make it myself and 62 00:03:22,566 --> 00:03:23,466 I'm going to do it. 63 00:03:23,533 --> 00:03:24,566 So you're trying to finance your business? 64 00:03:24,633 --> 00:03:25,500 Mm-hmm. 65 00:03:25,566 --> 00:03:27,300 And so when you came home the first time, 66 00:03:27,366 --> 00:03:29,766 you're thinking, I got to do better to finance my business. 67 00:03:29,833 --> 00:03:30,666 Yeah. 68 00:03:30,733 --> 00:03:32,266 But doing better was still doing what? 69 00:03:32,333 --> 00:03:33,533 Selling drugs. Yeah. 70 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:34,733 And then you got locked up again. 71 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:35,333 Yeah. 72 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:36,533 And then what happened? 73 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:38,666 Got locked up for two years this time. 74 00:03:38,733 --> 00:03:40,733 And when I got locked up for, no, 75 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:42,333 it was actually my second go around, 76 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,933 I got locked up for three years and that was rough. 77 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,066 So what made the difference? 78 00:03:47,133 --> 00:03:49,900 When I was a rap artist, I always wanted to walk on 79 00:03:49,966 --> 00:03:51,900 stage with shoes that no one ever saw before. 80 00:03:51,966 --> 00:03:55,600 Like, when it comes time for being in the hip hop music 81 00:03:55,666 --> 00:03:58,633 in general, it's like your clothing and your and your 82 00:03:58,700 --> 00:04:01,266 sneakers and everything has to be on point all the time. 83 00:04:01,333 --> 00:04:05,100 How do you go from creating your own shoes to a business? 84 00:04:05,166 --> 00:04:08,866 I had a phone call with my mom and she was on the phone crying. 85 00:04:08,933 --> 00:04:10,933 And she was like, I don't know what you're going 86 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:11,833 to do with your life. 87 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:13,000 They're doing background checks. 88 00:04:13,066 --> 00:04:14,466 It's going to be very difficult for you to find 89 00:04:14,533 --> 00:04:17,633 a job and you're going to have to figure out something 90 00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:19,500 because when you come home, you're not going to be able 91 00:04:19,566 --> 00:04:21,233 to do anything as far as employment's concerned. 92 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:23,333 Something just told me just to start sketching. 93 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,066 And I sketched that first shoe. 94 00:04:25,133 --> 00:04:27,466 And after I saw how good that it was, 95 00:04:27,533 --> 00:04:29,866 I was like, man, let me just keep doing it. 96 00:04:29,933 --> 00:04:31,000 Before it was all said and done, 97 00:04:31,066 --> 00:04:33,400 I had over 300 sketches of shoes. 98 00:04:33,466 --> 00:04:36,433 I had over 150 designs for apparel. 99 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:39,433 I had glasses, I had belts, like everything you could 100 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:40,666 possibly think of, fashion-wise, 101 00:04:40,733 --> 00:04:41,800 I already sketched it. 102 00:04:41,866 --> 00:04:43,033 And you were doing all this when you were locked up? 103 00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:45,633 I would get like, training from other artists that were there. 104 00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:47,833 So like if I'm walking the yard in the prison 105 00:04:47,900 --> 00:04:50,533 and I would see a guy sitting out there with a sketch pad and 106 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,333 he's sketching, I would go give him a pack of 107 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,100 cigarettes for him to give me some pointers on how 108 00:04:54,166 --> 00:04:55,966 I can make my de designs better. 109 00:04:56,033 --> 00:04:58,666 So at that point, that's when I started to 110 00:04:58,733 --> 00:04:59,733 take it more seriously. 111 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,000 I called my mom and I told her, 112 00:05:01,066 --> 00:05:02,533 look, I really believe in this, this sneaker thing. 113 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,766 My designs are coming out really good. 114 00:05:04,833 --> 00:05:09,466 And then she suggested that she would send me some, 115 00:05:09,533 --> 00:05:12,466 some business books so that way I can actually learn how 116 00:05:12,533 --> 00:05:14,933 to write a business plan and come up with a plan while I 117 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,800 was incarcerated instead of trying to work it out when 118 00:05:16,866 --> 00:05:18,033 I get back. Wow. 119 00:05:18,100 --> 00:05:20,233 And a lot of other guys were working in business plans too? 120 00:05:20,300 --> 00:05:21,266 As well. Yep. 121 00:05:21,333 --> 00:05:22,400 In prison. Mm-hmm. 122 00:05:22,466 --> 00:05:24,466 So people-- I don't think people think of people in 123 00:05:24,533 --> 00:05:26,666 prison as being entrepreneurs like that. 124 00:05:26,733 --> 00:05:27,700 I don't think so. 125 00:05:27,766 --> 00:05:29,266 But I'm telling you now, like the, 126 00:05:29,333 --> 00:05:31,666 like some of the most smartest people I've ever 127 00:05:31,733 --> 00:05:33,133 met were in prison. 128 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,666 I would love to see some of your work. 129 00:05:35,733 --> 00:05:38,366 I happen to be a size 13. All right. 130 00:05:38,433 --> 00:05:39,966 Well, I happen to have a size 13 for you. 131 00:05:40,033 --> 00:05:40,966 You ready to see it? 132 00:05:41,033 --> 00:05:43,800 Definitely, these are fierce. I love these. 133 00:05:43,866 --> 00:05:44,933 Thank you. Thank you. 134 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,700 Thank you. You're an inspiration. 135 00:05:46,766 --> 00:05:48,233 Thank you. Appreciate it. 136 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:49,666 That's great job. Thank you. 137 00:05:50,333 --> 00:05:53,400 Maleek Jackson lived in a constant state of anger 138 00:05:53,466 --> 00:05:56,633 behind bars, and learned to channel his negative 139 00:05:56,700 --> 00:06:01,033 emotions into developing a set of skills in the sweet side. 140 00:06:01,833 --> 00:06:04,400 Today he shares what he learned with others, 141 00:06:04,466 --> 00:06:07,900 especially kids, mostly for free in a space he can 142 00:06:07,966 --> 00:06:09,666 proudly call his own. 143 00:06:10,933 --> 00:06:12,200 Turn it, front foot. 144 00:06:12,833 --> 00:06:13,900 Put the back foot over. 145 00:06:17,233 --> 00:06:18,266 There. 146 00:06:19,233 --> 00:06:20,266 Okay. 147 00:06:20,966 --> 00:06:21,700 This is hard. 148 00:06:22,366 --> 00:06:25,300 One, two right here. 149 00:06:26,166 --> 00:06:27,666 That's it. Awesome. 150 00:06:29,833 --> 00:06:34,233 You own a boxing gym in Philly. 151 00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:35,666 That's like legendary. 152 00:06:35,733 --> 00:06:37,300 It feels good. 153 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:43,233 To me, being a business owner is one of my 154 00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:46,100 accomplishments that I pride myself on. 155 00:06:46,166 --> 00:06:48,366 Basically because it's something that I set out to 156 00:06:48,433 --> 00:06:50,333 get, I set out to do. 157 00:06:50,900 --> 00:06:54,600 But when I was 16, 17. Really? 158 00:06:54,666 --> 00:06:55,733 Yeah. 159 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:57,733 You know, when I was 16, I was locked up for a whole 160 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,833 lot of mischief and things that I did in the streets 161 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:01,966 of south Philly. 162 00:07:02,033 --> 00:07:05,566 I was committing robberies, I was assaulting people. 163 00:07:05,633 --> 00:07:08,000 I got charged with a gun, charged with shooting. 164 00:07:08,066 --> 00:07:12,100 And when I faced the judge I was sentenced. 165 00:07:12,166 --> 00:07:14,000 How much time did you get? 166 00:07:14,066 --> 00:07:15,733 I got eight to 16 years. 167 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:16,966 Man. Yeah. 168 00:07:17,033 --> 00:07:18,566 Of which I did 10. 169 00:07:18,633 --> 00:07:21,266 I did three years in solitary confinement. 170 00:07:21,333 --> 00:07:21,966 Oh my god. 171 00:07:22,033 --> 00:07:25,433 23 hours in, one hour out. 172 00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:26,433 Right? 173 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:27,300 I'm, I'm sorry, man. 174 00:07:27,366 --> 00:07:28,800 Because I, I, yeah, that's, that's, 175 00:07:28,866 --> 00:07:30,500 that's torture, right? 176 00:07:30,566 --> 00:07:33,500 Boxing was a gift. 177 00:07:33,566 --> 00:07:37,366 It was a gift to me when I was young. 178 00:07:37,433 --> 00:07:40,400 And that gift stayed with me when I was in prison. 179 00:07:40,466 --> 00:07:44,900 And from that gift, I attracted the mindset. 180 00:07:44,966 --> 00:07:48,266 And from that mindset, I was able to overcome my situation. 181 00:07:48,333 --> 00:07:49,933 What do you mean by that? 182 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,233 I mean, think about boxing. What is boxing? 183 00:07:52,933 --> 00:07:54,833 I mean, it's guys hitting each other. 184 00:07:55,333 --> 00:07:57,500 That's, that's the end result. 185 00:07:58,066 --> 00:08:02,766 Boxing is first of all, understanding 186 00:08:02,833 --> 00:08:04,800 who you are, right? 187 00:08:04,866 --> 00:08:06,733 And how to move forward. 188 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,666 Whatever talent and ability that you was given, 189 00:08:09,733 --> 00:08:12,166 prison is the most violent place you could be in. 190 00:08:12,233 --> 00:08:13,533 Right? 191 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,900 And so when the time arrived and I had to defend myself, 192 00:08:17,966 --> 00:08:23,300 I fought, I'm a little kid certified as an adult 193 00:08:23,366 --> 00:08:24,566 in an adult prison. 194 00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:29,166 Now, throughout that journey, 195 00:08:29,233 --> 00:08:34,433 I run into an old head who tells me, 196 00:08:34,500 --> 00:08:38,066 hey, you look like a boxer. 197 00:08:38,566 --> 00:08:40,633 I've been watching. 198 00:08:41,266 --> 00:08:42,900 You should let me train you. 199 00:08:43,533 --> 00:08:47,266 I was using my natural abilities to fight when 200 00:08:47,333 --> 00:08:48,600 I needed to in prison. 201 00:08:49,433 --> 00:08:53,366 And when I ran into someone who had more knowledge and 202 00:08:53,433 --> 00:08:55,333 more experience in the sport of boxing, 203 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,366 and he gifted that to me, I used it that, 204 00:08:58,433 --> 00:08:59,333 I used that gift. 205 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,400 And now you see the development in that gift 206 00:09:01,466 --> 00:09:02,900 right now. Wow. 207 00:09:02,966 --> 00:09:05,966 You didn't just come home and just look at, 208 00:09:06,033 --> 00:09:07,333 get any old job. 209 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:11,933 You're in this beautiful space that you own. 210 00:09:12,766 --> 00:09:13,966 How did that happen? 211 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,666 I think this like staying true to, 212 00:09:18,733 --> 00:09:20,233 to your journey. 213 00:09:20,300 --> 00:09:22,600 You know I'm, I'm a student first. 214 00:09:22,666 --> 00:09:25,266 And then the best way to the, 215 00:09:25,333 --> 00:09:28,766 the, the, the, to keep and retain what you learn 216 00:09:28,833 --> 00:09:30,166 is to teach it. 217 00:09:30,233 --> 00:09:31,700 I said boxing is a gift. 218 00:09:31,766 --> 00:09:34,266 And people come to me, I give them a haircut. 219 00:09:34,333 --> 00:09:37,233 That's why I call it, I make them feel good about themselves. 220 00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:39,566 So when you see your barber, when you leave your barber, 221 00:09:39,633 --> 00:09:41,533 you feel better, when she goes see her hairdressers, 222 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,166 when she leave her hairdresser, she feel better. 223 00:09:44,233 --> 00:09:45,933 So I used that. I used boxing like that. 224 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,900 and I used my journey, 225 00:09:47,966 --> 00:09:49,666 my life experiences to sprinkle that in. 226 00:09:49,733 --> 00:09:53,900 Mike Carter used his time in prison to follow his passion 227 00:09:53,966 --> 00:09:56,733 and develop his skills as a chef. 228 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,866 He describes himself as a flavor regulator and has 229 00:10:00,933 --> 00:10:06,033 received national recognition as a world-class pizza yolo. 230 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:10,233 Mike is the executive chef at Down North Pizza where 231 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:14,000 all of the workers are formerly incarcerated folks. 232 00:10:14,066 --> 00:10:18,066 He's creating a signature line of sauces that he hopes 233 00:10:18,133 --> 00:10:21,133 will soon be available at a restaurant or grocery 234 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:22,733 store near you. 235 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,900 How did you get the name flavor regulator? 236 00:10:25,966 --> 00:10:28,500 Well, one thing for sure when cooking is all about 237 00:10:28,566 --> 00:10:30,966 the flavor, and I try to layer my flavors, 238 00:10:31,033 --> 00:10:34,300 but I grew up on a movie called the Young Guns. 239 00:10:34,366 --> 00:10:38,200 So mobility Kid, regulators mount up. 240 00:10:38,266 --> 00:10:40,033 And where do you work? 241 00:10:40,100 --> 00:10:42,566 I'm the executive chef at Down North Pizza. 242 00:10:42,633 --> 00:10:44,300 Tell us about Down North Pizza. 243 00:10:44,366 --> 00:10:45,300 Okay. 244 00:10:45,366 --> 00:10:47,700 Down North Pizza is a mission-based for-profit 245 00:10:47,766 --> 00:10:50,100 restaurant, where I exclusively hire formerly 246 00:10:50,166 --> 00:10:52,400 incarcerated to reduce the recidivism rate? 247 00:10:52,466 --> 00:10:55,266 And why focus on hiring felons? 248 00:10:55,333 --> 00:10:57,033 Because I believe--. 249 00:10:57,100 --> 00:10:58,766 I, I got to say, I don't like that word felons. 250 00:10:58,833 --> 00:11:01,833 But why, why focus on hiring people who are coming home. 251 00:11:01,900 --> 00:11:03,733 Formerly incarcerated or returning citizens, 252 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,766 they like to use I mean, different words like that, 253 00:11:06,833 --> 00:11:08,100 but it all means the same thing. 254 00:11:08,166 --> 00:11:10,466 Because you don't think of yourself as a felon, 255 00:11:10,533 --> 00:11:11,266 do you? I do. 256 00:11:11,333 --> 00:11:12,366 I am a felon. Really? 257 00:11:12,433 --> 00:11:13,200 Yeah, for sure. What does that mean? 258 00:11:13,266 --> 00:11:14,433 It means that I can't get a gun. 259 00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:16,766 It means that I can't get certain business licenses 260 00:11:16,833 --> 00:11:19,100 all because I'm a felon, because I have this--. 261 00:11:19,166 --> 00:11:21,600 Like I'm not a full citizen. Okay. 262 00:11:21,666 --> 00:11:23,000 It took my citizenship away. 263 00:11:23,066 --> 00:11:26,466 What's it been like hiring only people who are coming home? 264 00:11:26,533 --> 00:11:30,433 I think it works in my favor because I'm hiring a bunch 265 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:32,766 of, ultimately, like you said, that word felon. 266 00:11:32,833 --> 00:11:34,133 Another word I like to say is dads. 267 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,333 So everybody that under my employment is a father and 268 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,666 they're the most responsible people in the world. 269 00:11:39,733 --> 00:11:42,266 When I first came home from the penitentiary, 270 00:11:42,333 --> 00:11:44,333 I had to lie on my resumes. 271 00:11:44,933 --> 00:11:45,733 Lie about what? 272 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,200 About having a felon. 273 00:11:47,266 --> 00:11:49,333 Like they ask you those questions, 274 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,100 but it's like, if I tell you you're not going to hire me. 275 00:11:52,166 --> 00:11:54,466 But then once you get me in and the background search is 276 00:11:54,533 --> 00:11:57,300 complete, it's like, yeah, you lied, 277 00:11:57,366 --> 00:12:00,533 but we need you here because our whole menu from top to 278 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,533 bottom already, so it's like, it's too late. 279 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,533 So like, that's kind of like humiliating. 280 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:05,833 I always have to lie because as a man, 281 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:06,966 I don't lie to anybody. 282 00:12:07,033 --> 00:12:08,966 Like I tell you what it is and what you going to do. 283 00:12:09,033 --> 00:12:10,166 Okay. 284 00:12:10,233 --> 00:12:12,400 So it's like either you, you come for the mission and you 285 00:12:12,466 --> 00:12:14,166 get the food, or you come for the food and you 286 00:12:14,233 --> 00:12:15,100 get the mission. Okay. 287 00:12:15,166 --> 00:12:18,166 So what's next for the flavor regulator? 288 00:12:18,233 --> 00:12:19,700 What's your next move? 289 00:12:19,766 --> 00:12:21,800 My next move is actually the launch, 290 00:12:21,866 --> 00:12:23,700 two different things. 291 00:12:23,766 --> 00:12:27,133 I'm launching a sauce and marinade business behind my 292 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:31,500 catering company Flavor Regulators in out west, 293 00:12:31,566 --> 00:12:34,400 a breakfast restaurant launching in West top of the year. 294 00:12:34,466 --> 00:12:35,866 You're making me hungry, brother. 295 00:12:35,933 --> 00:12:37,266 Yeah, man. Good talking to you. 296 00:12:37,333 --> 00:12:38,133 Same here brother. 297 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,333 At the University of Pennsylvania, 298 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,100 Dr. Tom Duffin connects the formerly incarcerated with 299 00:12:44,166 --> 00:12:47,600 his students to work together to create business 300 00:12:47,666 --> 00:12:51,100 plans from scratch, from their best ideas and gives 301 00:12:51,166 --> 00:12:53,933 them a chance to pitch to potential investors on the 302 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,400 last day of class. 303 00:12:55,466 --> 00:13:00,366 It's a lesson plan that both empowers and inspires. 304 00:13:00,433 --> 00:13:03,300 Tell me about your journey from being a successful 305 00:13:03,366 --> 00:13:06,366 financial advisor to now working with people 306 00:13:06,433 --> 00:13:07,266 who are coming home. 307 00:13:07,333 --> 00:13:08,766 While I was a financial advisor, 308 00:13:08,833 --> 00:13:13,300 started working on getting a PhD in social work and 309 00:13:13,366 --> 00:13:15,966 finished that and was looking to just bridge those 310 00:13:16,033 --> 00:13:19,600 worlds of, of finance and social work. 311 00:13:19,666 --> 00:13:21,866 Because they seem kind of far apart. 312 00:13:21,933 --> 00:13:23,233 Like social work is about like, 313 00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:26,666 I think working with people from under-resourced communities. 314 00:13:26,733 --> 00:13:29,133 And financial advisor, you're working with rich people. 315 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,966 I read about a program that Villanova has where they 316 00:13:32,033 --> 00:13:36,266 provide education inside SEI Phoenix, 317 00:13:36,333 --> 00:13:37,766 a maximum security men's prison, 318 00:13:37,833 --> 00:13:40,200 where the men there actually get Villanova degrees. 319 00:13:40,266 --> 00:13:41,200 Wow. 320 00:13:41,266 --> 00:13:43,300 And so I wrote to the director of that saying, 321 00:13:43,366 --> 00:13:45,066 hey, I would love to teach in this program. 322 00:13:45,133 --> 00:13:49,600 And when the first I walked in there was just amazed by 323 00:13:49,666 --> 00:13:54,433 what just looked like a complete waste of resources. 324 00:13:54,500 --> 00:13:57,100 I want to hear more about, I just imagine you in this big 325 00:13:57,166 --> 00:13:59,800 fancy corporate office at Wells Fargo. 326 00:13:59,866 --> 00:14:04,133 So what's it like leaving that space and going to a 327 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,333 maximum security prison? Yeah. 328 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:07,933 Was it scary? 329 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,700 It was surprisingly urns scary. 330 00:14:10,766 --> 00:14:13,966 So I expected the first time to be and then found that it 331 00:14:14,033 --> 00:14:16,800 was, it was, it was just anything but. 332 00:14:16,866 --> 00:14:22,666 Instead it, it felt like sad but, but not scary. 333 00:14:22,733 --> 00:14:23,833 And what was the sad part? 334 00:14:23,900 --> 00:14:28,433 Just the, the waste of just that all these people who 335 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:30,100 had seemed to have a lot to offer, 336 00:14:30,166 --> 00:14:33,666 who had a lot of interest in wanting to add to their 337 00:14:33,733 --> 00:14:36,866 communities that just were denied the ability to do that. 338 00:14:36,933 --> 00:14:38,866 Very different from the clients you were used to 339 00:14:38,933 --> 00:14:39,533 working with. 340 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:40,833 Oh, this is for sure. 341 00:14:41,666 --> 00:14:45,333 And finding then going in the classroom there and 342 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,166 finding everybody's hand up all the time. 343 00:14:48,233 --> 00:14:49,366 Everybody read everything. 344 00:14:49,433 --> 00:14:50,966 These guys were eager to learn. 345 00:14:51,033 --> 00:14:53,733 Really eager to learn and really astute. 346 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:55,600 So if someone's locked up for decades, 347 00:14:55,666 --> 00:14:57,966 what can you teach them that's going to make a 348 00:14:58,033 --> 00:14:59,066 difference in their life? 349 00:14:59,133 --> 00:15:02,200 Well that's a really good question and part of it, 350 00:15:02,266 --> 00:15:05,133 because I, I started teaching there this social 351 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:10,700 impact entrepreneurship and this idea of being able to 352 00:15:10,766 --> 00:15:12,533 maybe create a social business, 353 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,866 make a living, and, and also help communities. 354 00:15:16,933 --> 00:15:18,733 What's a social business? 355 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,600 So a business maybe that's not just focused on profits, 356 00:15:21,666 --> 00:15:24,733 but also focused on, on people on the planet, 357 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:28,000 on, on other bottom lines and just making money. 358 00:15:28,066 --> 00:15:30,400 We're trying to connect people with resources. 359 00:15:30,466 --> 00:15:32,900 So that's what we're doing in the program here, 360 00:15:32,966 --> 00:15:35,733 is just trying to bring together people with 361 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,833 resources and, and people who deserve them. 362 00:15:38,900 --> 00:15:39,900 Great. 363 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,500 People from communities that have been walled off, 364 00:15:42,566 --> 00:15:45,233 segregated and maybe have, have spent a long time 365 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:47,833 inside don't have these networks. 366 00:15:47,900 --> 00:15:51,766 So all of us have our own networks and we all want to 367 00:15:51,833 --> 00:15:56,266 think about ways that we can extend our networks to these 368 00:15:56,333 --> 00:15:59,566 really deserving returning citizens who we're going to 369 00:15:59,633 --> 00:16:00,666 hear from today. 370 00:16:00,733 --> 00:16:05,733 I spent approximately 15 years combined incarcerated. 371 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:10,100 And through this incarceration I developed a mental illness. 372 00:16:10,166 --> 00:16:12,166 I'm kind of against medicine, 373 00:16:12,233 --> 00:16:15,466 so I'm leery of the side effects and, 374 00:16:15,533 --> 00:16:17,766 and the, and the problems of addiction. 375 00:16:17,833 --> 00:16:21,133 So I began researching alternatives to medication. 376 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,100 Through my research, I real, I've came to the realization 377 00:16:25,166 --> 00:16:29,233 and understanding that CBD is good as to fight anxiety, 378 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:31,266 depression, as well as chronic pain. 379 00:16:31,333 --> 00:16:33,266 My name is Rasan Townsend. 380 00:16:33,333 --> 00:16:36,700 I'm aspiring food truck entrepreneur and the founder 381 00:16:36,766 --> 00:16:38,733 of the Munchies Breakfast Food Truck. 382 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,966 What munchies is, is a breakfast food truck that 383 00:16:42,033 --> 00:16:43,733 I plan to serve breakfast all day, 384 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,233 meaning outside the normal operation hours that 385 00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:47,433 breakfast is served. 386 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:51,633 The idea of this truck came about during the involuntary 387 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:54,433 vacation that I had, that I took at the age of 23. 388 00:16:54,500 --> 00:16:59,266 The age of 23, 2004, I was sent to 235 months in the 389 00:16:59,333 --> 00:17:00,800 federal prison system. 390 00:17:00,866 --> 00:17:03,333 That equates to 19 years and seven months. 391 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:04,900 Out that 19 and seven months, 392 00:17:04,966 --> 00:17:06,966 I served 17 years of that sentence. 393 00:17:07,033 --> 00:17:09,633 Throughout that time I made a vow to myself that 394 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:13,666 returning back to society, I did not want to return what 395 00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:17,400 I left and to turn this sour situation to something sweet. 396 00:17:17,466 --> 00:17:20,233 I'm Andre Keith, better known as Dre Keith. 397 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:23,800 I'm the founder, CEO of Dre Washing Fold. 398 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:26,466 Let me tell you a little story. 399 00:17:27,166 --> 00:17:29,300 I want to start by talking about, 400 00:17:29,366 --> 00:17:32,933 as I grew up in Jersey, I was a little kid with my mom, 401 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,066 my three siblings. 402 00:17:34,133 --> 00:17:36,900 She would take us to the laundromat because we lived 403 00:17:36,966 --> 00:17:37,766 in an apartment building. 404 00:17:37,833 --> 00:17:40,633 We really didn't have ample washing. 405 00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:43,233 She would take us to there and it was like family 406 00:17:43,300 --> 00:17:47,366 people would, would be call me by name. 407 00:17:47,433 --> 00:17:50,333 They knew everything about my schoolwork, 408 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:51,866 it felt like home. 409 00:17:52,466 --> 00:17:54,100 You could come into my place, 410 00:17:54,166 --> 00:17:56,200 sit down, have a cup of coffee, 411 00:17:56,266 --> 00:17:57,933 get your clothes washed. 412 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,366 It's great. 413 00:17:59,433 --> 00:18:01,033 I'm Chef Mike Carter. 414 00:18:01,100 --> 00:18:04,433 I did over 12 and a half years in the penitentiary. 415 00:18:04,500 --> 00:18:12,766 So at Down North Pizza, fair wage only hire exclusively 416 00:18:12,833 --> 00:18:14,300 formerly incarcerated. 417 00:18:14,366 --> 00:18:16,600 That spoke to me because during the pandemic, 418 00:18:16,666 --> 00:18:18,900 some social justice missions started popping off. 419 00:18:18,966 --> 00:18:21,533 George Floyd was a big thing. 420 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,766 People were out here protesting in the street. 421 00:18:23,833 --> 00:18:25,866 Somebody like me can't protest. 422 00:18:25,933 --> 00:18:28,233 I don't know about you all, but any contact with the 423 00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:30,700 police means that I go back to jail and they ain't a 424 00:18:30,766 --> 00:18:32,266 bail fund that could bail me out. 425 00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:34,766 Once that, once that dsy drop, I'm stuck. 426 00:18:34,833 --> 00:18:36,800 So Down North Pizza spoke to me. 427 00:18:36,866 --> 00:18:40,733 It was my sort of like my demonstration. 428 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,366 I was able to get out here and make something happen. 429 00:18:43,433 --> 00:18:46,100 Bon Appétit came at me, New York Times best, 430 00:18:46,166 --> 00:18:48,233 50 best restaurants. 431 00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:50,433 And everybody was just talking about the sauces 432 00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:52,000 that was on these products. 433 00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:55,233 And it was this, how do I get it out there with all 434 00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:56,933 this media attention coming to me? 435 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,000 I got people flying in into Philadelphia where 436 00:18:59,066 --> 00:19:01,166 Destination Conde Nasin wrote about it. 437 00:19:01,233 --> 00:19:02,233 You know what I mean? 438 00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:04,300 They're like damn, I love that sauce that you got 439 00:19:04,366 --> 00:19:05,366 on the pizza. 440 00:19:05,433 --> 00:19:06,800 I love that sauce that you got on that the wings. 441 00:19:06,866 --> 00:19:09,366 Like, where can I get that? You made all that in here? 442 00:19:09,433 --> 00:19:11,666 Because you know Philadelphia it's real 443 00:19:11,733 --> 00:19:13,600 homes, little small, it's small restaurant. 444 00:19:13,666 --> 00:19:15,066 They like you made all that inside. 445 00:19:15,133 --> 00:19:16,833 Yeah, let me buy some. 446 00:19:16,900 --> 00:19:25,133 So the sauce market $84.5 billion globally. 447 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:26,700 That's a lot of room. 448 00:19:26,766 --> 00:19:29,433 Last year I started selling North Sauce by the court 449 00:19:29,500 --> 00:19:31,966 after I got permission from Honcho. 450 00:19:32,033 --> 00:19:33,933 You know what I mean? That's what I call the boss. 451 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,500 By the court on the fly, because basically I had a 452 00:19:38,566 --> 00:19:40,600 believe, a guy made me a believer in myself. 453 00:19:40,666 --> 00:19:42,666 He came in, he was from Toronto. 454 00:19:42,733 --> 00:19:44,800 He said, yo, look, I saw you all on Hulu. 455 00:19:44,866 --> 00:19:47,400 This North Sauce is popping. It is good. 456 00:19:47,466 --> 00:19:49,133 I want some to come home. 457 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,000 So like, basically he put pressure on me and pressure 458 00:19:52,066 --> 00:19:54,100 either it is going to bust you, 459 00:19:54,166 --> 00:19:55,700 bust a pipe or it's going to make a diamond. 460 00:19:55,766 --> 00:19:59,266 How much of your story your face is going to be part of 461 00:19:59,333 --> 00:20:00,600 the marketing. 462 00:20:00,666 --> 00:20:03,966 Oh, of course I'm going to be a poster child 463 00:20:04,033 --> 00:20:07,300 and we building a brand. You very charismatic bro. 464 00:20:07,366 --> 00:20:09,066 And you definitely got to add that to your story. 465 00:20:09,133 --> 00:20:11,566 Because that is your story. That is your intelligence. 466 00:20:11,633 --> 00:20:13,600 And you need to put that out there and market that. 467 00:20:13,666 --> 00:20:15,733 You do, and I love that you smart enough to know what 468 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:17,000 you know and know what you don't know. 469 00:20:17,066 --> 00:20:19,966 I've learned a valuable lesson that selling my story 470 00:20:20,033 --> 00:20:21,466 is a major part of my success. 471 00:20:21,533 --> 00:20:24,733 So I'm, I'm ready to push the line. 472 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,700 If, if don't nobody else believe in me, I have to. 473 00:20:26,766 --> 00:20:30,833 As of right now, we have over 50 employees and about 474 00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:33,866 20% of my employees are formerly incarcerated individuals. 475 00:20:33,933 --> 00:20:40,433 Last year as of 2022, we had a gross revenue of $1.7 million. 476 00:20:41,133 --> 00:20:44,333 Our agency offers industry such as medication reminders. 477 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,566 We accompany you to doctor visits. 478 00:20:46,633 --> 00:20:48,266 We do meal prep and cleanup. 479 00:20:48,333 --> 00:20:52,966 United States has the most incarcerated 480 00:20:53,033 --> 00:20:54,466 people in the world. 481 00:20:54,533 --> 00:20:57,700 We don't make you check that box that, that, that box. 482 00:20:57,766 --> 00:20:59,733 That yes or no, if you have been incarcerated. 483 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,233 We don't ask about formerly incarceration or nothing. 484 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:03,333 If you tell us, you tell us, 485 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,933 we, it is mandatory that you do a background check on 486 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,066 everybody, but as long as you haven't been 487 00:21:08,133 --> 00:21:10,966 incarcerated for anything like welfare fraud, 488 00:21:11,033 --> 00:21:13,733 some of the harsher crimes may be murdered, 489 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:15,066 then I can give you a job. 490 00:21:15,133 --> 00:21:17,033 Like, there's no, there's no reason why I can't give you 491 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:17,866 a second chance. 492 00:21:17,933 --> 00:21:19,200 I got a second chance. 493 00:21:19,266 --> 00:21:21,100 I don't mind giving other people second chances. 494 00:21:21,166 --> 00:21:26,600 My name is Stacey Torrance and I am founder of Fremont 495 00:21:26,666 --> 00:21:27,666 Entrepreneur Network. 496 00:21:27,733 --> 00:21:31,633 In 1988, I was sentenced to life without parole. 497 00:21:31,700 --> 00:21:35,500 Essentially it is a death by incarceration sentence. 498 00:21:35,566 --> 00:21:42,700 You know, I was actually slated to die in prison. 499 00:21:42,766 --> 00:21:46,400 Fortunately though fast forward 30 years later, 500 00:21:46,466 --> 00:21:47,933 I served 30 years of that sentence. 501 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:53,533 My entrepreneur network is essentially a website that 502 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,333 highlights and promotes the works, 503 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,400 the good deeds of entrepreneurs who happen to 504 00:22:00,466 --> 00:22:01,900 be formerly incarcerated. 505 00:22:01,966 --> 00:22:06,300 To change that stigma and to change that narrative that 506 00:22:06,366 --> 00:22:09,866 the media put out there in regards to people who were 507 00:22:09,933 --> 00:22:12,066 affected by the system. 508 00:22:12,133 --> 00:22:16,000 That makes it difficult for us to get, to get jobs. 509 00:22:16,066 --> 00:22:19,666 It makes it difficult for, difficult for people to find 510 00:22:19,733 --> 00:22:22,400 housing and things like that because of that stigma. 511 00:22:22,466 --> 00:22:26,766 So that's one of the things that the network aimed to change. 512 00:22:26,833 --> 00:22:29,633 So we just heard some incredible pitches. 513 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:32,366 That's what I say, but I'm broke, 514 00:22:32,433 --> 00:22:34,600 you the guys who know how to make money. 515 00:22:34,666 --> 00:22:35,900 What, what did you think? 516 00:22:35,966 --> 00:22:41,000 Well, I, I thought that they were very passionate that 517 00:22:41,066 --> 00:22:42,633 that was the most consistent thing. 518 00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:46,133 Very passionate about what they want to bring to the market. 519 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,366 One thing I found interesting is that a lot of 520 00:22:49,433 --> 00:22:51,700 the guys included their own stories. 521 00:22:51,766 --> 00:22:54,500 It was almost like part of their business plan. 522 00:22:54,566 --> 00:22:58,866 It's important to them to own the fact that they've done time. 523 00:22:58,933 --> 00:23:01,866 For so long we have been looked at as the 524 00:23:01,933 --> 00:23:04,000 lower rung of society. 525 00:23:04,066 --> 00:23:06,766 So when we can step in these spaces and get that 526 00:23:06,833 --> 00:23:10,200 confidence and feel that that synergy coming from 527 00:23:10,266 --> 00:23:11,866 people, that is a, that's a good thing. 528 00:23:11,933 --> 00:23:13,933 That's a step in the right direction. 529 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:14,400 Right? 530 00:23:14,966 --> 00:23:16,833 For being, being incarcerated, 531 00:23:16,900 --> 00:23:20,000 I think it takes about two and a half years to get one 532 00:23:20,066 --> 00:23:21,266 of your years back. 533 00:23:21,333 --> 00:23:23,900 There's things that you can do in life to 534 00:23:23,966 --> 00:23:27,866 speed those processes up. I live by them. 535 00:23:27,933 --> 00:23:30,133 Creating a family of my own. 536 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,133 Working, paying bills, and creating something that's mine. 537 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,033 Entrepreneurship is really about solving problems. 538 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,966 And men who've been incarcerated, 539 00:23:40,033 --> 00:23:43,933 they're some of the greatest geniuses walking the earth. 540 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,066 They know how to solve problems. 541 00:23:45,133 --> 00:23:46,433 Trust me, they're out there. 542 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:47,600 And that's what we are here to do, 543 00:23:47,666 --> 00:23:49,833 is highlight what we do so we're not the exception. 544 00:23:49,900 --> 00:23:52,633 So to let them know that it is a lighthouse and there is 545 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:54,566 a light out there that you can guide and go 546 00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:55,933 towards the individuals. 547 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:57,466 Because trust me, they're out there. 548 00:23:57,533 --> 00:23:59,133 That's great. Thanks very much. 549 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:00,666 Thank you. You guys are awesome. 550 00:24:01,766 --> 00:24:05,933 Entrepreneurs are a rare breed ready and willing to 551 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:11,100 take risk and turn their dreams into reality against tough odds. 552 00:24:11,166 --> 00:24:16,000 Returning citizens too often face an uphill battle and 553 00:24:16,066 --> 00:24:20,266 reclaiming the dream of a decent life after the pain 554 00:24:20,333 --> 00:24:22,133 of incarceration. 555 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,200 For those who take on the challenge and responsibility 556 00:24:26,266 --> 00:24:30,366 of making their own way, salvation comes in the form 557 00:24:30,433 --> 00:24:34,566 of hard work, persistence and the belief in anyone's 558 00:24:34,633 --> 00:24:38,566 ability to make good things happen if they have faith 559 00:24:38,633 --> 00:24:40,266 and never give up. 560 00:24:40,333 --> 00:24:45,700 For many, the riskier role is the role best chosen 561 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:50,500 and the reward, the possibility of a new world 562 00:24:50,566 --> 00:24:52,700 on their own terms. 563 00:25:35,166 --> 00:25:39,233 Returning citizens is made possible by 564 00:26:09,166 --> 00:26:11,000 The United Way, 565 00:26:11,066 --> 00:26:15,066 fostering the success of those who as they return to 566 00:26:15,133 --> 00:26:19,366 our neighborhoods, remain a largely untapped resource. 567 00:26:19,433 --> 00:26:21,400 The formerly incarcerated. 568 00:26:21,466 --> 00:26:23,566 Waterman II Fund of the 569 00:26:23,633 --> 00:26:26,666 Philadelphia Foundation at the recommendation of 570 00:26:26,733 --> 00:26:30,500 David Haas, the Independence Foundation.