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Defy Programs

CEO of Your New Life

Defy operates our core in-prison program, CEO of Your New Life (CEO YNL) in 9 states across the country, from California to New York. CEO YNL participants—whom we refer to as Entrepreneurs in Training or EITs—complete a robust curriculum that includes personal and professional development, career readiness, and entrepreneurship training.

We are eager to continue offering supportive programming to hundreds more people who are preparing for their reentry journey. 

01

Entrepreneur Bootcamp

The embodiment of a second chance, Entrepreneur Bootcamp is there to help potential EITs who have achieved stable housing and employment
but didn’t have access to CEO YNL during their incarceration or reentry.

02

Business Accelerator

There’s no greater re-start than starting your own business. Our Business Accelerator gives EITs the entrepreneurial know-how to successfully incorporate, launch, and grow a new businesses.  A next step after completing CEO YNL or Entrepreneur Bootcamp and meeting reentry stability goals.

02

Post Release from Prison

Once CEO YNL program graduates are released from prison, they can access Defy’s post-release services which include case management, career readiness training, resume support and mock interviews, provision of a Chromebook, and job placement support.

Defy continues to offer much of our post-release programming via Zoom which allows use to serve more individuals. We also continue to build employment partnerships to create pathways to careers for EITs, including partners like Union Pacific Railroad, Checkr, and Cox Auto.

We could not do this work without the support of the business community helping EITs to prepare for reentry, and welcoming them home to opportunities to build economic stability for their families. 

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Shifting Mindsets

Our Impact

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