Returning Citizens

Having a voice is a powerful tool to tell your own story. In many instances, those who are on the “receiving” side rarely, if ever, have opportunity to speak of the challenges they’ve overcome. Most people like control—but that’s especially true of entrepreneurs! Whether they enter entrepreneurship through job loss, relocation, or just the interest in launching something new, most entrepreneurs want to have control over their own decisions. But what happens when the control doesn’t exist? What about when options are limited because of past decisions you’ve made and the consequences impact you for a lifetime? This is the challenge many Returning Citizens seeking to gain a foothold in society experience on a daily basis. I believe most people would lack the perseverance for the struggle, even without the stigma of being incarcerated. I’m reminded of Jesus’ instruction to his disciples when they questioned his treatment of the most vulnerable, those who were cast out, those who had no voice, those who society had rejected, Jesus reminded them, “…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me (Matt 25.45).” Creating entrepreneurial opportunities with men and women returning from incarceration is not about what we can do for them necessarily. It’s about accepting them into society and allowing them to earn opportunities—to have a voice and some choices, just as others who are on the entrepreneurial journey want for themselves. Join me in listening to Kelvin, Mica and Afolabi tell their story about entrepreneurship as a pathway to being heard, accepted and a way to give back to society. Feel free to comment and share.