A New Start: Entrepreneurship Initiatives for the Justice-Involved Community

Presenters: Adam Pitts, Ron Gauthier

People who have served time in jail or prison face stigma, employment barriers, and other lifelong difficulties—a set of challenges sometimes referred to as a "second sentence." A first-of-its-kind program, the New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator supports a growing but largely overlooked subset of aspiring entrepreneurs: the formerly incarcerated. Through in-person classes, online coursework, and a network of mentors, this six-month program equips justice-impacted individuals with the skills needed to start and run a small business. Learn about this empowering initiative and how libraries can leverage community partnerships to serve this uniquely disadvantaged population.