Not Everyone Falls From the Top
Before anyone vouched for him, Downey forfeited 40% of his paycheck just to cover his own insurance. That’s the part we don’t talk about. Second chances work when everyone plays their part—here’s how.
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The Full Circle: How Kerwin Pittman is Turning a Prison into a Beacon of Hope
TL;DR The Story: Formerly incarcerated Kerwin Pittman purchased the Wayne Correctional Center in North Carolina for $275,000. The Vision: He is transforming the 19-acre prison into RREPS (Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services), a massive reentry and vocational training campus. The Impact: The facility will provide housing and job training in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing for…
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Beyond the Courtroom: Rethinking Careers in Criminal Justice
We tend to present criminal law as a binary: you’re either putting people in the system, or pulling them out of it. But the reality is, the criminal justice system is an ecosystem—and some of the most meaningful, life-changing work happens outside the courtroom. From dismantling ‘moral character’ barriers in professional licensing to building the next generation of legal tech for expungement, the ‘Second Chance’ economy is wide open. For those drawn to justice but not necessarily to trial work, it’s time to look beyond the binary.
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From Cell to Patent: How David Baldwin ‘Used Time’ to Invent the Future
TL;DR The Invention: David Baldwin spent his 10-year sentence designing a specialized wearable tool pouch, turning a prison cell into a research and development lab. The Milestone: Baldwin is now a legitimate patent holder and entrepreneur, proving that incarceration doesn’t have to be a dead end for talent. The Mission: He now visits jails (like…
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Freedom Braids: How Carlos Rebollo Braided His Way to a Second Chance
TL;DR The Journey: Carlos Rebollo was incarcerated at age 15 and served 24 years before finding his path. The Craft: He mastered “underbraiding”: a pain-free technique: while behind bars, even though it was technically against the rules. The Brand: Since his 2022 release, he founded Freedom Braids LLC in Shelton, CT, becoming a business owner…
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Reclaiming the Narrative: Why Entrepreneurship is the Ultimate Escape Hatch for Justice-Impacted Women
I am a white, Jewish man. No matter how much I listen or how deeply I care, I move through the world with a set of cards that look very different from the ones dealt to a woman walking out of a correctional facility. I see the world through my own lens, and I recognize…
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Alex Pretti Is Dead: A Call for Accountability and Justice
A man is dead. His name was Alex Pretti. He was 37 years old. He was an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA who spent his days keeping veterans alive. He was a U.S. citizen. He had no violent criminal history. He was legally carrying a registered firearm. He was legally filming federal agents during…
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Second Chances Aren’t Just for One Kind of Comeback
Society has convinced us that second chances are charity. Something we give to people who’ve “messed up.” A kindness extended to those who’ve fallen off the right path. This is complete nonsense. Second chances aren’t charity. They’re oxygen. If that idea resonates, read how entrepreneurship becomes the ultimate escape hatch for justice-impacted women. Everyone needs…
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Jennifer Lopez, Entrepreneurship, and the Power of Reinvention
Jennifer Lopez’s journey of reinvention mirrors entrepreneurship itself—public setbacks, second chances, and the power of owning your destiny.