Second Chance: Business and Entrepreneurship for Reintegration Programs

Individuals transitioning into society upon completion of their court-ordered sanctions face numerous barriers that undermine existing reintegration efforts. In addition to social and financial hardships, many are disqualified from meaningful workforce participation, and become caught in a cycle of recidivism that risks exposing families to long-lasting generational impacts. In such cases, entrepreneurship becomes a viable alternative to conventional employment. Second Chance is an entry-level program that will expose students to the mindset, core principles and practical considerations required when pursuing small business ownership. Successful entrepreneurship requires a balance between developing soft skills and business acumen. This program first places emphases on proper mindset, self-assessment and the communication skills necessary to effectively interact in a social environment. Students are then provided with a strong foundation of practical business skills based on best practices and proven industry standards. Second Chance will equip students with competencies that correlate with the community’s social and economic needs, and highlight the continuum of services available to aspiring business owners through community-based organizations and service providers. In an effort to maximize the probability of sustainable positive outcomes, special consideration during the development of this program has been given to the prohibitive circumstances unique to persons transitioning from within the criminal justice system.