Defy Ventures

We were thrilled to attend Austin Coming Together's (ACT) Membership Awards! The evening featured an inspiring discussion between Marisa Novara of The Chicago Community Trust and Darnell Shields of ACT on philanthropy’s role in social change, Austin’s upcoming Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, housing challenges, and the promise of community land trusts. As Darnell said, “Austin will not be denied.” Congratulations to our partner Defy Ventures and Melissa Gelber-O'Dell on their well-deserved Member of the Year Award! It was a night filled with inspiration, collaboration, and civic love. ❤️

Calling all entrepreneurs in the Wisconsin area! Be your own boss with Defy's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp program, facilitated by Entrepreneur In Training Partnership, starting January 2025. 🙌 Join a community that believes in second chances. 🙌 Participants will develop leadership skills and a new business with support from the facilitator, a community of peers, and business leaders. The class is open to justice-impacted people in Wisconsin who have spent time in jail or prison. If you know someone who could benefit from taking this training, please forward them our information! This round of Bootcamp will be online from 6-8 pm on Mondays and Thursdays starting January 23, 2025 through May 22, 2025. We can loan laptops to those who qualify for the class but don’t have their own computer. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 3rd. Find the application at Linktr.ee/EITpartnership and click on the Bootcamp Application button. #entrepreneurship #reentryprograms #justiceimpacted #defytheodds

We're so honored to have LegalZoom's support and partnership in the upcoming year in 2025 as we deepen our commitment to mental health and wellbeing programs for our Entrepreneurs in Training who are rebuilding their futures, in spite of the challenges and barriers that come with reentering society. Read more on their linked press release below!

At Defy, we believe everyone deserves a fair chance to rebuild their lives. Your support helps make this possible, turning hope into action and giving people the tools they need to build brighter futures after incarceration. With Giving Tuesday just around the corner, you can be part of something meaningful today. When you make a contribution today, you’ll be helping us kick off this year-end giving campaign and bring life-changing programs to even more people! Why give to Defy? - Recidivism rates are as high as 50% in some states. Recidivism rates for Defy graduates are under 10% after one year. - Unemployment is a key factor in recidivism, further perpetuating cycles of poverty and incarceration. Last year, 90% of Defy graduates were employed within 6 months. - Some states spend well over $100,000 per year to keep one person incarcerated. Defy’s transformative CEO of Your New Life (CEO YNL) prison program costs about $2,000 per person. Each donation to Defy is more than just a gift – it’s an investment in second chances. Contribute today: https://bit.ly/3CSn8wH #GivingTuesday #SecondChances #DefyVentures #SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship #CorporateSocialResponsibility #ReentrySuccess #NonprofitWork

Great recognition for our Defy Ventures Utah team and thank you to Utah Department of Corrections, Executive Director Brian Redd and the leadership there for your belief in our program!

$140K in contracts and counting—that’s just the beginning for Carl Williams. As the founder of Royal Men Solutions, Mr. Williams has turned his love of carpentry into a thriving business serving Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana with custom office furnishings and unmatched service. In his business’s early days, Mr. Williams connected with Defy Ventures through MBDA’s Entrepreneurship Education for Formerly Incarcerated Persons Center in Los Angeles. With guidance from the program, Mr. Williams learned to refine his pitch, outshine competitors, and build a brand that’s all his own. Now Mr. Williams is on a mission to give back. When he’s not working on his business, he’s mentoring local youth in carpentry and entrepreneurship, with plans to launch a 501(c)(3) to expand his impact. Carl’s story is proof that resilience and ambition can transform dreams into reality. Learn more about his inspiring journey here: https://lnkd.in/eh986ySc

Some exciting news from our Defy Illinois chapter!

The Defy Ventures 2023 Annual Report is here 📖!  In this comprehensive look of the past year, you’ll find highlights of our work across the country, inspiring stories of our Defy Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs), and ways that our Defy community came together to drive change. 🙌 This year, we took the time to reflect on the triumphs and challenges that defined 2023. As we approach the end of another year, we invite you to explore these pages to see how your support has helped shape lives and communities. #Defytheodds #entrepreneurship #reentryprograms #socialentrepreneurship

At Defy Ventures, our in-prison events bring together our inspiring Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) and incredible volunteers for transformative coaching, mentorship, and empathy-building exercises. These experiences spark lasting change—not only for our EITs but also for our volunteers, creating a ripple effect of change.

Today, we celebrate Melissa Gelber-O'Dell, Executive Director of our Defy Illinois chapter, for being honored at the Breakin' It Down Chicago Conference with the Individual Denise Stennis Award! This award celebrates those who demonstrate leadership in uplifting under-represented and underserved communities and driving strategic, racial equity change across the Chicago area. Melissa’s commitment to driving equity and supporting underserved communities sets a powerful example for us all. Her leadership doesn’t just inspire—it creates lasting change. Join us in congratulating Melissa for her dedication and impact in the Chicago community! 🎉 Leave a 👏 below to show your support for Melissa and all the incredible leaders driving equity forward! More about the award here: https://lnkd.in/gXUyytH3 #LeadershipInAction #CommunityImpact #EquityInAction #Changemakers #ChicagoLeadership #DefyIllinois