With PREP, we explore a social entrepreneurial approach to community reintegration, with a focus on micro-enterprise development, civic engagement, and advocacy for social justice. Treating formerly incarcerated individuals as a potential asset rather than a problem in our community, we design and implement an innovative and replicable program that turns them into entrepreneurs and encourages them to give back to the community through civic engagement and policy advocacy. This theory-based and practice-oriented model aims at effectively transitioning formerly incarcerated individuals and welfare recipients back to the community. More specifically, our model highlights the importance of two program elements that haven’t received much attention in prior efforts: entrepreneurship and civic engagement. First, the idea of community reintegration through entrepreneurship is based on the presumption that entrepreneurial spirit is an important potential asset for formerly incarcerated individuals. For example, a nascent body of literature suggests striking similarities between criminals and successful entrepreneurs with regards to risk-taking propensity and motivational factors. Moreover, the risk associated with self-employment and entrepreneurship is lower for this marginalized group than for the general population, as they have a significantly lower opportunity cost. Second, civic engagement activities such as volunteer work for charities play a key role in facilitating successful reintegration. Not only does civic engagement enhance the public image of these individuals and demonstrate their responsibility and willingness to give back to the community, but it also serves to develop human and social capital assets that enhance their long-term economic outcomes. By helping others, disadvantaged individuals can also develop a new identity as someone who “makes good” by doing good. As such, civic engagement activities will help gain support and acceptance from the community

Create employment opportunities and networking tools for those impacted by Mass incarceration

To bring education and certification opportunities to those directly impacted by incarceration