From Ex-Con to Entrepreneur

Guest: Megan Goddard, Program Manager, Defy Ventures In Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables,” ex-convict Jean Valjean could not escape his past and make a living as an honest man until he changed his name and denied his criminal history. Then, he prospered, eventually becoming a mayor and business owner, helping many people around him to prosper as well. Today, ex-convicts in the US can feel like they’re facing the same dilemma: employers balk at hiring a former criminal, particularly one with a felony conviction.  One job-skills training organization has set out to change that. They recruit felons, particularly leaders of gangs or drug rings, because they see in them ambition and marketing skills. Find out how Defy Ventures turns ex-cons into entrepreneurs and how you can help. Defy Ventures