Entrepreneurship: Catalyst for Successful Reentry

National Association Correctional Industries

Bobby Clark, President

Sustainable Business Ventures Corporation

March 2013

Copyright 2013, Sustainable Business Ventures Corporation, Lexington, KY

Successful re-entry through Entrepreneurship

► For some ex-offenders, entrepreneurship offers new opportunities for successful reentry

► Reducing recidivism and empowering ex-offenders to start their own businesses to create their own jobs is a great strategy that is being well received across the US.

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PEW Center Study ► In the March 2009, the PEW

Center’s, One in 31, the Long Reach of American Corrections

► “The laws passed in 80s & 90s increased incarcerated pop. reached 2.3 million & 1 in 100 adults was in prison or jail.”

► “… # on probation or parole 5 million plus, up from 1.6 million just 25 years ago.

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PRI Report

► Venturing Beyond the Gates: Facilitating Successful Reentry with Entrepreneurship

► “Entrepreneurship has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional employment opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalized individuals all over the world.

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PRI Report

While researchers

agree that

self-employment

may not be a

viable option for

many individuals

leaving prison, the mere fact of the exposure to entrepreneurship training can factor in successful reentry to the community.

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PRI Report

“For many, because

entrepreneurial

thinking is infused

with the philosophy

of empowerment,

exposure to

entrepreneurial training will reshape their perspective on their role in society.

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Our entrepreneur curriculum emphasizes the concept of Triple Bottom Line, which addresses people, planet and profit:

1. the impact or bottom-line of a business has on society and the community (people);

2. the impact or economic bottom-line on the environment (planet); and

3. every organization must focus on the economic bottom-line (profit).

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Green Programs Managed

►Bluegrass Goes Green – Bluegrass Area Development District

►Green Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (GEL-IN) - Lincoln Trail Area Development District

►Green Entrepreneur Program - Bluegrass Area Development District

►Green Entrepreneur Program - Southeastern Correctional Institution, Lancaster OH

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Scenes from GEL-IN

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Scenes from Green Entrepreneur Program

Prison Entrepreneurship Program PEP

► Headquarters: Houston

► Offices: Houston & Dallas

► Prison: Cleveland

Correctional Center (GEO)

► Staff: 15

► Volunteers: > 500 / year

► Funding: 100% Private

► Annual Audits How to Free a Prisoner

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PEP Venture Capital Pitch Day

Program Services & Results ► Reintegration: Community of accountability and encouragement

► Transitional Housing

► Business Services

Entrepreneurship School (eSchool) & Executive mentoring

Access to financing

Employment (last 24 months)

Average days to employment: 27

100% employed within 90 days of release

Average wage: $10.50 (45% above min. wage)

Business Formation (since inception)

Businesses started: 100+ Active today: 75

PEP Recidivism - 5%

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Direct Benefits to Texans

► Texans save over $5 million on each group of 150 PEP released graduates

Represents over 300% ROI in PEP

570 released graduates earn approx. $14 million per year in wages, spending an est. $9 million per year in local economies

Released grads generate almost $4 million per year in payroll, sales and income taxes

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PEP Business Plan Competition & Graduation June 10-11, 2010

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Making the Case with Correctional Programs

►“Green” business and jobs are relevant to prisoner reentry

►that IDAs are important tools for personal investment in reentry

►that “green” training and IDAs complement existing training and counseling programs

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Relevance of “Green” to Prisoner Reentry

►Low- and moderate-technology/skill job and business opportunities

►Apprenticeship programs complemented with ‘green’ training and certification

►Growth of prison industries prepares ex-offenders for start-up business and job opportunities

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Relevance of ‘Green’ to Prisoner Reentry: Low & Moderate Skills in

Each Sector

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Examples of Low & Moderate Skill ‘Green’ Jobs and

Businesses ►Weatherization

►Building retrofit component parts

►Manufacturing

►Landscaping

►Solar panel assembly and installation

►Plumbing & electrical helpers and apprentices

►Cleaning business using environmentally friendly products

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Relevance of ‘Green’ Component of Business Model to Prisoner

Reentry

• Job training and business planning can start in

prison (classroom & actual work)

• Apprenticeship programs can be complemented

with ‘green’ training and certification

• Community-based transition programs can align

with workforce development programs

• ‘Green’ job growth faster than other jobs

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Range of ‘Green’ Training

Programs and Technical Assistance

►Triple Bottom Line (comprehensive)

People, Planet & Profit

►Customized for individual institutions

►Training that links prison industries/training with for profit and nonprofit “green” needs

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Green Job Skills Training - Examples

► Skills training for growing organic vegetables grown and reduces the cost of purchases for food in the prison

► Inmates are taught benefits of composting and Vermiculture (worms) – reduces disposal costs

► Bicycle repair program donates bikes to low-income children in the community

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Green Job Skills Training - Examples

► Solar panel installation – cleaning & maintenance

► Cleaning prisons using environmentally friendly cleaning products (growing public consciousness for home & business)

► Training on Hydroponics/Aquaculture and Aquaponics (growing vegetables and shrimp)

Southeastern Correctional Institution – Lancaster OH

►Ohio Green Prison Project

►Roots for Success

►Green Entrepreneur Program

Roots of Success is an empowering environmental literacy and job

readiness curriculum that prepares youth and adults with barriers to

employment for jobs and careers in the green economy.

Ohio Green Prison Project

Roots for Success Composed of 9 modules

Fundamentals of Environmental Literacy

Water

Waste

Transportation

Energy

Building

Health, Food & Agriculture

Community Organizing & Leadership

Application & Practice

► New 10th module on Financial Literacy & Social Entrepreneurship

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Scenes from Southeastern Correctional Institution

Green Entrepreneurship Course Description

► 1. Entrepreneurship Introduction and

Overview

► 2. Brainstorming, Mentors, Goals, and Networking

► 3. Social Media and e-Commerce

► 4. Sustainability, Green Practices, and Environment Issues

► 5. Idea Generation and Elevator Pitches

► 6. Business Plan Basics

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SCI Business Plans

► HVAC Repair

► Green Cleaning Service

► Military Parts Supplier

► GPS Chips for Kid Clothing

► Pick up Meals Service

► Technology Repair and Design Service

► Auto Repair

► Landscaping

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Evergreen State College

►The Sustainability in Prisons Project is a partnership of the Washington State Department of Corrections and The Evergreen State College.

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American Correctional Association Adoption of ‘Green’

Standard: August 1, 2010

►Standard: The program shall demonstrate that it has examined, and implemented, where appropriate, strategies that promote recycling, energy and water conservation, pollution reduction and utilization of renewable energy alternatives.

RecycleForce Recycling Electronics – Recycling People

RecycleForce Columbus is a social enterprise with the two-fold mission of recycling end-of-life electronics

and providing employment for persons reentering the community from prison based in Ohio.

www.recycleforcecolumbus.org

www.facebook.com/recycleforcecolumbus

Mission:

“Providing a pathway for formerly incarcerated men and women to successfully re-integrate into the workforce and become responsible, tax-paying,

productive community members & citizens through comprehensive environmentally sound and secure

end-of-life electronics processing.”

Environmental & Social Justice for All

Providing a pathway for hundreds of formerly incarcerated men and women to successfully re-integrate into the workforce and become responsible, tax-paying, productive community members & citizens through comprehensive environmentally sound and secure end-of-life electronics processing.

WE ARE MINERS

►There is as much gold in a ton of electronic waste as in 55 tons of ore.

►Copper, aluminum, plastic and steel.

►Our material will be recycled and reused in industry. The steel we recycle supports dozens of Hoosier jobs.

Social Enterprise

501(c)3 Non-Profit dedicated to leading, developing and implementing effective strategy to reduce recidivism; improving local and state economies and communities and the lives of hundreds of formerly incarcerated men and women and their families.

Transitional Employment Advantages for Workers

►Work attachment and investment

►Workplace mediation and support

►Long-term retention management services

►Emphasis on paying child support

Case Management Service continues for two years after program completion

Economic Impact

►Earned Nearly $3 million in Wages

►Paid More than $400,000 in Child Support

►Paid more than $650,000 in Re-Entry User

Fees to Marion County Agencies

►Paid $625,000 in Federal, State and

Local taxes

Between January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2011 Recycle Force Employees:

Those Who Earn at Least $5,000 in the first six months after release have significantly lower recidivism rates.

U.S. Department of Labor

► Awarded 5M grant November 2011 for study of 1,000 newly released felons over 2 years

► 500 to participate in 4 month Employment and Training program with RecycleForce

► 500 in Control Group will receive “supports as usual”

“Work Organizes Life” ~ William Julius Wilson

A person with a stable job is regardless of

educational attainments is less likely to re-offend than a person who does not work after incarceration

A person with a job is more likely to have

children who stay in school Children do better when their parents are in

their lives

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More information

Bobby Clark, President

Sustainable Business Ventures PO Box 1367

Lexington, KY 40588-1367

859-227-0263

www.sbventures.org

sbvclark@gmail.com