Positive Transitioning - The Entrepreneurship Issue

Entrepreneurship Issue The Ways to Start a Business

You’ve Got What It Takes Wyoming Resources

In This Issue The Parenting Issue May 2021

Letter from the Executive Director

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Word of the month

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Wyoming resources

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There Are Many Ways to Start A Business You’ve Got What It Takes

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Letter from the Executive Director In our previous parenting issue, one of our dedicated volunteers, Maggie, wrote about her upcoming childbirth. First, let me say that we are happy to know that she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Congratulations Maggie on your growing family!

This entrepreneurial issue is one of my favorite issues.

We want to give you ideas on how to take ownership of your own career – which is such a huge part of getting on your feet. It can be tough for anyone to with a record to get a job, and it’s a pain to wait for someone to give you permission to change your life.

This issue gives you ideas on how to turn your hustler mentality into a career. We cover the different types of entrepreneurial endeavors that you can take from multi-level marketing to franchising. We also include courses and programs that will help you jump start your own small business.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Sincerely, Porche Proffit

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Masthead and Contributors Editor-in-Chief, Porsche Proffit Editor, Ericka Foster

Contributors Writer, Maggie Allen Writer, Natalie Rodriguez-Steen

Positive Transitioning Inc. is a non–profit organization that provides information and resources for individuals reentering the community after incarceration.

In addition to this magazine, Positive Transitioning Inc. offers a 24-hour Resource/Listening Line that services all 50 states. The Resource/Listening line is staffed by life coaches, and provides individuals with the immediate support and resources they may be needed during reentry.

Positive Transitioning Inc. also provides individuals life coaches that will assist them in every step of the reentry process: housing, education, employment, vocational training, obtaining government benefits, veteran assistance, medical management, sponsorship, financial stability, family reintegration, and legal assisting.

Currently Positive Transitioning Inc. is entirely web–based as we are hoping that this makes it easily accessible for anyone to access from anywhere.

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en·tre·pre·neur·ship the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.

“I believe everyone in the world is born with genius-level talent. Apply yourself to whatever you’re genius at, and you can do anything in the world.” – Jay-Z

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Wyoming State Services  Second Chance Ministries secondchancegillette.org/ Based in Campbell County, Wyoming, Second Chance Ministries supports men and women released from incarceration. The faith-based organization provides re-entry assistance during the first 4 months after release.  Community Action of Laramie County calc.net Community Action of Laramie County provides workshops that address personal development including: self-image and performance; conflict and stress management; assertiveness training; career choices; and budgeting. It also provides housing assistance.

National Resources  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) aclu.org/issues/prisoners-rights Prisoners’ rights to read, write, speak, practice their religion, and communicate with the outside world are often curtailed far beyond what is necessary for institutional security.  CareerOneStop careeronestop.org/Site/american-job-center.aspx Located across the country, American Job Centers can help you look for work and offer job search workshops, free computer access, and more.  National HIRE Network hirenetwork.org The goal of the National H.I.R.E. Network is to increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to people with criminal records by changing public policies, employment practices and public opinion.  National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) nrrc.csgjusticecenter.org Funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) is the nation’s primary source of information and guidance in reentry.

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There Are Many Ways to Start A Business

By Ericka Foster and Maggie Allen When you think of owning your own business, you may think of a restaurant or a store. At the other end of the spectrum, you might know someone selling stereos of the back of a truck (do they still do that?) But owning your own business can mean so many things.

The beautiful thing about having your own business is that it can be as small or as big as you want it to be.

As with ANY self-employment endeavor, start by being passionate about the idea, because you will have to work HARD. Hopefully, your passion for the idea will balance out the hard work required.

Multilevel Marketing: Eyes Wide Open Multilevel marketing (MLM) is also sometimes known as network marketing or direct selling. In these kinds of companies, people ask individuals they know to purchase a product. If the friend likes the product, then s/he can s also start selling it. You may not know the name of the type of company, but you’ve probably heard of them: Avon and Mary Kay. You’ve probably had a friend try to sell you a product as a part of a multi-level marketing company. Not all MLMs are bad news, but you should approach them with a healthy level of skepticism.

If you are thinking of selling products through an MLM, do your research. Check with the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and your local consumer protection agency to find out if there are any complaints or lawsuits against the company.

The important things to remember are make sure it’s not a scam and be realistic about the amount of money that you can make.

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Nonprofit Don’t let the title fool you! You can earn money running a nonprofit. Your salary is part of the operational costs. You can live your live with the salary of a nonprofit, although it is not a way to be rich. A nonprofit is sometimes referred to as a 501(c) (3) most non-profits fall into that tax-exempt category. Visit the IRS web page and consult with a tax professional on the ins and outs of the non-profit tax status.

The best nonprofits run like businesses – so make a business plan.Your business plan will help you figure out what makes you stand out from other nonprofits, how you will finance your nonprofit, and how you expect your nonprofit to grow. Having a direction for your organization will help you predict the time and effort required to get it off the ground. You can find a business plan template online you can also find resources to help you write your business plan.

Franchising When you open a franchise, you run the business, but you get a roadmap from the franchisor. It tends to be less risky because someone else owns the brand -- think McDonalds, Starbucks, or Marriott hotels.

According to the International Franchise Association, all types of companies franchise, including gyms, tax services, barber shops, cell phone repair, and janitorial services.

Franchise 500 for more ideas.

As the franchisee, you pay a royalty and often an initial fee for the right to do business under the franchisor's name and system. In the most common kind of franchising, business format franchising, the franchisor provides to the franchisee not just its trade name, products and services, but an entire system for operating the business.

While there is no current federal or state law preventing a felon from owning a business or franchise, felons might face trouble licensing and bonding for a franchise, although depending on the circumstances of the crime, it is possible to speak to an attorney and secure what is called a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities. In this, a court requests that the licensing board consider you, regardless of any financial loss or low credit ratings that may have resulted from your time incarcerated.

At the very least, participate in any job-relevant education or training you can get your hands on. Check out if there are any courses offered at your local library or school system. Every little effort improves your chances.

If all else looks good, think about the investments required: scouting locations, time commitments, capital, training, etc. There will be numerous hurdles, but having an open conversation and establishing a good relationship with your franchisor is essential. So many opportunities could be waiting for you; you just need to listen for the knocks.

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You’ve Got What It Takes

By Ericka Foster and Natalie Rodriguez-Steen In his article for Entrepreneur magazine, ex-offender and entrepreneur Andrew Medal says that three reasons that the formerly incarcerated make good entrepreneurs are: •

They can handle uncertainty They are creative thinkers They are experts in resourcefulness

When searching for support online, be sure to type in • keywords like “microloans” and “small business And while many people have this desire to own incubator” to get the most their own business, to nurture their own idea, they out of your search. don’t know. A small business incubator can help individuals learn the tools and techniques to grow their ideas, and therefore gain the confidence to be an entrepreneur. On the next page, we included a list of resources and programs for former inmates to learn about entrepreneurship.

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This is not a comprehensive list; this is just a place to get started. When searching for organizations to help ex-offenders become entrepreneurs, also look for organizations specifically focusing on women and/or minorities.

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Program

Location

Requirements/Description

Inmates to Entrepreneurs

Online; North Carolina

Defy Ventures

Washington, California, Louisiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York tri-state area Texas

Provides individuals with the information they need to start their own business, including marketing, customer service, and finance.

Offers training programs, entrepreneur boot camp and a business incubator.

Prison Entrepreneurship Program Building Tennessee Entrepreneurs for Success Leap for Ladies Florida Lifelong Information for Entrepreneurs (LIFE)

Oregon

Resilience Education

Virginia and New York

Pathways to Enterprise for Returning Citizens (PERC)

Illinois

Six-month entrepreneurship training programs at the men’s facilities

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Teaches business and entrepreneurial skills for successful reentry into the community and reduce recidivism Program for women combining essential employability and life skills, entrepreneurship, self-love, and mentorship.

2-week entrepreneurial training program for incarcerated Oregonians who are within 18 to 24 months of release and post-prison reentry.

Teaches the skills required to find their dream job, organize their finances, and start their own business.

PERC provides entrepreneurial training for both incarcerated and previously incarcerated citizens with aspirations of starting or expanding a business. After completing PERC training, eligible participants may apply for small business loans offered by, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives Micro Finance Group.

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