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A2 May 13, 2021 The Chronicle New TV show aligns with CSEM bedrock: Improving the re-entry of former offenders BY JOHN RAILEY Winston-Salem State University’s Center for the Study of Economic Mo bility (CSEM) has, since its inception almost four years ago, made research into economic mobility for released offenders one of its bedrocks. This empha sis is both practical and right: practical because it provides good employees for businesses and upward economic mobility for re leased offenders, and right because it encourages re demption and better lives for ex-offenders and their families. Brian Hamilton, the head of a foundation that bears his name, produces Free Enterprise, a 30-min- ute show that started last month and airs on ABC at 11 a.m. Saturdays. Ham ilton has visited CSEM, and the foundation is one of CSEM’s partners. Ham ilton said in an email: “There is no larger and more unifying proposition in our country than the idea that everyone gets a second chance. Free En terprise demonstrates that judicially involved people can take part in a most im portant part of the Ameri can dream - having owner ship. On the show you will see real people starting simple businesses to be come part of the American tapestry.” Another CSEM part ner, David Moore of Winston-Salem, said he sees such rejuvenation constantly. “I’m mentor ing these guys who are having those challenges,” he said. Moore, who did time in prison years ago, started an auto body repair nonprofit that has turned numerous lives around and has revamped his Project M.O.O.R.E, which mentors at-risk youth with training in music, barber- ing and cosmetology. Moore is a CSEM Community Scholar and his group received an Economic Mobility Op portunity Award. Another local businessman who did time in prison years ago, Jerry Anderson, also received the designation and award, which encour ages the building of path ways to economic mobil ity, said CSEM Associate Director Alvin Atkinson. Moore and Anderson have transformed lives by nur turing the entrepreneurial talents of released offend ers. CSEM backs those ef forts with research into re- entry, most recently by Dr. Douglas Bates, a CSEM Photo courtesy of Free Enterprise Brian Hamilton, left, talks with a released offender about a new business. Fellow and assistant pro fessor in WSSU’s Depart ment of Social Work. Free Enterprise touch es on challenges CSEM and its partners know well. In the show, Hamilton, who made it in financial technology before estab lishing his foundation to help released offenders, visits these people and advises them as they form businesses, including a til ing one in Durham and a pressure-washing one in Raleigh. One of the ex-offend ers, a young man named Rashad, says, “I’m tired of just surviving. I want to live.” Hamilton tells Rashad: “So you obviously have the skills. What’s stopping you from forming your own business?” He and Rashad work through the barriers, Ham ilton advising Rashad on how to dress sharply, net work, market his business, give a job estimate (figur ing in overhead) and do the job right. “Show up on time, do what you say you’re going to do,” Ham ilton says. “All businesses start from zero.” Rashad says, “You get a lot of rejection, but the more I go through it, the more confident I become ... I just want my daughter to have someone she can be proud of.” Hamilton says: “When you’re on the bottom, the only place to look is up ... [Rashad] is living proof that people can change.” In another show, an ex- offender named Bradley says, “I want to prove to the doubters and the nay sayers that people like me can be trusted.... There are good people out there that don’t care about your for mer life, that will give you an opportunity.” Research can ease that process. Dr. Bates is work ing on a survey that ex-of fenders applying for jobs can fill out that gauges their level of “institution alization” so employers can best work with them. For example, ex-offenders often want firm sched ules and rules, like they became accustomed to in prison. The released of fenders often make good employees, Bates said, be cause it is hard for them to find work and they tend to stay on the jobs they find. David Moore wel comes such research. “Ex-offenders aren’t built where you can get a $50,000 loan and start your own business,” he shared. In starting his non- profit, Southside Rides, he secured grants from the City of Winston-Salem, gradually making South- side a success. Thirty-sev en of the men who have been in the program have opened their own body or car shops, Moore said. To encourage more such en trepreneurship, Moore re cently gave four graduates of his program stipends of $1,000 each. Such innovative tech niques, supported by Hamilton’s foundation and CSEM, are crucial in nur turing the abundance of talent among released of fenders. Hamilton says: “They deserve a second chance.” Indeed. That is both practical and right. John Railey, raileyjb@ gmail. com, is the writer-in- residence for CSEM, www. wssu.edu/csem. CONTACTING THE CHRONICLE www. wschronicle. com To send news items: email news@wschronicle.com 1300 E. Fifth St., Winston Salem, N.C. 27101 Main Phone Number: 336-722-8624 Advertising: Ext. 113 Circulation/Subscriptions: Ext. 100 Editor: Ext. 108 To send a Letter to the Editor (350 words or less) or column (550 words or less): email letters@wschronicle.com For advertising: email adv@wschronicle.com For subscriptions: email plewis@wschronicle.com Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/WSChron- icle Follow us on Twitter: WS Chronicle The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every Thursday by Chronicle Media Group, LLC, 1300 E. Fifth St., Winston Salem, N.C. 27101. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. An nual subscription price is $30.72. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
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