Life after prison: Helping inmates get a fresh start as entrepreneurs

Maybe you can’t go home again, but you can go back to prison.

In January of 2016, I — along with Taner Halicioglu, Mark Bowles, Tom Tullie and others plus a strong gift from Union Bank — helped raise $110,000 to launch the Defy Ventures entrepreneurship program at Donovan State Prison.

Since that time, I have taught other programs at the prison and have had the pleasure of helping some of the graduating entrepreneurs in training start businesses and get jobs. Also, a shout out to Bowles who has done this as well.

I was active in the prison program until COVID-19 shut down these gatherings. Only now has the program been resurrected with the first new cohort presenting personal statements, resumes and business ideas at this event.

Thirty-seven volunteers showed up at the prison for this coaching day. This is not a boondoggle walk in the park for the inmates. Three months ago, 95 men signed up to take the course, now only 39 are left in the program. It took serious commitment to get this far. Just to be accepted in the program required a 30-page application. Graduation is in another three months, and I think this group will hang in and make it to the finish line.

It was an old home week for me. A few of the inmates remembered me from previous times. While the program has changed a bit, the basics of life skills, behavior modification, self-image resurrection, resume preparation and interview techniques have not. This is core stuff for every entrepreneur, whether or not you are in prison.

I met men who have written novels, trained service dogs, been stunt men in Hollywood, served in the Air Force, developed software, worked in sales, managed a kitchen for 3,000 inmates, etc. And yes, they all made a mistake somewhere along the line, but none of us want to be defined forever by the worst thing we ever did.

The formerly incarcerated turn to entrepreneurship as an alternative to low wages and a lack of opportunity. The stigma and the discrimination of being a “felon” is real.

Wharton professor Damon Phillips has done research that confirms that “previously incarcerated individuals, particularly Black men, are 5 percent more likely to start their own business than the general public.” These are not venture-backed would-be unicorns, these are barbershop, landscape, cleaning service, tattoo parlor type businesses.

One of the strongest themes from these entrepreneurs is a desire to hire others like themselves to give a chance to the next inmate who gets out.

Phillips’ study “points to the need for more education, helping them to write a strong business plan and increasing their access to capital.” Then we have the issue of recidivism. “Returning citizens who become entrepreneurs are much less likely to return to prison.” Seems like a no-brainer.

This country certainly has a lot of shots on goal. America is first in prison population — in the world — with 1.8 million people behind bars. Consider that the cost per year per inmate in California is $132,000.

Look, I am not a criminologist. I don’t have the silver bullet solution for the prison-industrial-complex conundrum. But many of these men are getting associate and advanced degrees while in prison at both UC Irvine and Southwestern college. They are creative and engaged.

Does it really take 25-plus years to be rehabilitated? Are we missing out on qualified human resources that could create jobs, stabilize marriages and family, create employment for others?

A final word from Phillips. “Given that almost a third of adults have some form of criminal record, wouldn’t the health of the economy and public safety be improved if we provided opportunities for these citizens.” One third huh, OK, just look around the room.

The volunteers (just a bit under half were women) probably got more from the day than the entrepreneurs in training. We were White, educated, employed, healthy and wealthy enough.

But it is always educational to stand in someone else’s shoes, particularly if they are two sizes too small and missing a shoelace.

I love these guys. They make me more human.

Rule No. 810: “Today is a new day.” — An entrepreneur in training

Senturia is a serial entrepreneur who invests in startups. Please email ideas to neil@unicornhunter.ai.