Launching an extension of an existing business in a new city is much like launching anew. It requires acute knowledge of the local community, best practices for finding prospective customers and staff, and analysis of the competition, among other operational expertise.
Launching a nonprofit is no different. It requires the same entrepreneurial skills and often presents very similar challenges.
For Alli Thomas, her decision to join Inmates to Entrepreneurs (I2E), a Raleigh-based, not-for-profit currently branching into Charlotte and beyond, spoke to her sense of community and desire to play a proactive role in service of others. It also addressed issues she saw within her network and something she recognized within the greater Charlotte community.
“When individuals complete their prison term, or even if someone has an infraction of any type on their permanent record, they often struggle to get a job because they can’t pass the background check. But if we can help them find jobs, the recidivism rate will decline and so will the cost.
That’s why I2E focuses on training ex-offenders to become entrepreneurs – so they can become productive participants in society. Some have started landscaping businesses, or custodial roles, really any business that can be started as a single operator for under $500,” said Alli.
I2E was established in 2008 by Brian Hamilton, co-founder of Raleigh-based Sageworks, a financial information company which has worked with leading financial institutions for the past 20 years. I2E is the company’s primary social impact initiative, sparked by an invitation many years ago for Brian to speak to inmates about how he established his business. Since then, I2E has trained over 1,000 individuals with criminal backgrounds in North Carolina through various programming initiatives.
For Alli, the opportunity to launch I2E Charlotte calls on her education in nonprofit leadership and experience with a national children’s organization. It also speaks to an entrepreneurial spirit awakened as a young girl helping out in small ways with her father’s franchise business. While she didn’t know then how it would affect her, baring witness to his passion changed her own trajectory. She sees that potential in the I2E program as well.
“I’ve always seen myself as a helper but I never guessed what capacity that would mean as a career. I’ve lived in the Charlotte area my entire life and have seen the social changes happening here. With I2E, the potential to really create impact is there. I feel a calling to invest my time with this.”
She added, “Those facing re-entry are a very under-represented group. And they shouldn’t be. Why shouldn’t they be given that second chance? We are really doing them a disservice when they can’t land a stable job. If they start their own business, they won’t have that obstacle.”
Since joining the organization in February, Alli has found a very receptive audience in Charlotte, in part due to growing awareness of the “prison pipeline.” Connecting the dots with recidivism and the cost to society sells the idea of entrepreneurial training for re-entry.
But like any startup, there are challenges to overcome.
“Our biggest challenge is finding the mentors. Our organization is driven by volunteers. We need volunteers who have built their own business to share their experience and teach our entrepreneurs course,” said Alli.
On the other side, is recruiting the individuals who need the service. How do we reach those who are no longer in the system? We also have to anticipate and resolve any barriers before they become problems for those who want to access our free resources. Like setting up transportation service or child care so they can attend.”
Like all new businesses, telling their story is important. So Alli jumped on the chance to present at a recent 1 Million Cups Charlotte (1MC) think tank. While she first thought of it as a way to tap potential program mentors, the 1MC organizers helped her realized the greater benefit is in tapping the expertise of the attendees to help her look at her program like a business.
“There are so many aspects to establishing this program. It is just like having an idea for a business and seeing it through. Entrepreneurs know how to do that. I know they’ll have ideas that can help me figure it out, too,” she said.
Because no matter what barriers you may face, figuring it out is what the entrepreneurial spirit is all about.
Biz Beginnings 