Correctional and Jail Industry Professionals NCIA’s Conference

1. 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

2. 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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3. 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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4. 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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5. 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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6. 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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7. 7

8. 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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9. 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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10. Scenes from GEL-IN
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11. Scenes from
Green Entrepreneur Program
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12. 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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13. PEP Venture Capital Pitch Day

14. 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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15. 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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16. PEP Business Plan Competition
& Graduation June 10-11, 2010
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17. 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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18. 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 exoffenders for start-up business and job
opportunities
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19. Relevance of ‘Green’ to Prisoner
Reentry: Low & Moderate Skills in
Each Sector
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20. 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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21. 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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22. 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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23. 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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24. 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)
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25. Southeastern Correctional
Institution – Lancaster OH
► Ohio
Green Prison Project
► Roots for Success
► Green Entrepreneur Program

26. Ohio Green Prison Project
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.

27. 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

28. Scenes from
Southeastern Correctional Institution
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29. 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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30. 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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31. 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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32. 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.
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33. 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.”

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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

38. Economic Impact
Between January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2011
Recycle Force Employees:
► Earned
► Paid
Nearly $3 million in Wages
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
Those Who Earn at Least $5,000 in the first six months after
release have significantly lower recidivism rates.

39. 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”

40. “Work Organizes Life”
~ William Julius Wilson
A person with a stable job is regardless of
educational attainments is less likely to reoffend 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

41. More information
Bobby Clark, President
Sustainable Business Ventures
PO Box 1367
Lexington, KY 40588-1367
859-227-0263
www.sbventures.org
sbvclark@gmail.com
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