Twenty-seven incarcerated men graduated from Defy Ventures’ “CEO of Your New Life” program at the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP) on Nov. 2.
The program connects the incarcerated men, known throughout the course as Entrepreneurs in Trainings (EITs) with local business leaders and community volunteers who help them develop resumes and pitch business ideas. Twenty-eight volunteers attended the graduation, some travelling from as far as Wisconsin, New Jersey and California.
Thursday’s festivities included a business pitch competition, in which EITs pitched ideas such as a car detailing shop and funeral consultation service. Ahmed Almusa won the competition with his idea for a falafel food truck called Big Red Falafel. Along with a first place title, Almusa also earned a $500 voucher from Defy Ventures, which he can access upon his release.
While Almusa was declared the winner of the pitch contest, Defy team member Brian Moll thinks everyone in attendance came in first place.
“All of us have already won just by showing up,” Moll said.
Upon graduation, EITs earned a Certificate of Career Readiness from Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.
Upcoming Defy throughout the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) include a third class kick-off at NSP and graduation ceremonies at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI) and Omaha Correctional Center (OCC). Defy will also launch programming at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW) early next year.