[The following final update was written by the organization and then sent to us for further sharing.]

Defy Ventures Southern California is proud to report significant progress and impact during the LA2050 grant period. Our program not only exceeded the proposed goals but also sparked new partnerships, created life-changing opportunities for our Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs), and strengthened the network of support available to system-impacted individuals across Los Angeles County.

Our initial goal was to enroll 90 participants and engage 140 volunteers. We are thrilled to report that we enrolled over 150 participants and engaged 213 volunteers during the grant period. Through our post-release services, we also engaged 115 individuals. When we factor in the families of our participants, using the LA County household size average of 2.89, this brings the total number of direct and indirect beneficiaries to over 765 individuals. Similarly, the volunteer engagement reached over 615 people when including their spheres of influence. Given that many of our volunteers hold leadership positions, such as c-suite executives, their influence extends far beyond traditional engagement metrics, as they contribute to changing mindsets and furthering the reentry journey of our EITs in numerous ways.

Throughout this grant period, many EITs have made remarkable strides, not only in their personal lives but also as leaders in both the business and nonprofit sector. One such individual is Richard Clarke. In 2023 he launched his company, Raise Up, an educational service for underserved communities, especially the formerly incarcerated, that provides workshops on digital and financial literacy. He partners with both community-based organizations and educational institutions that are doing reentry work throughout Los Angeles County.

When asked why he created his company, he says, “I do what I do because I want to succeed and I want to help others succeed. Defy helped me to clarify my mission and overcome the mental blockage that was holding me back.”

Another example is Jason Holland. Jason was originally sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole as a teenager. After finishing Defy’s program inside, he continued to give back by serving as a peer facilitator for Defy and helping new EITs go through the curriculum.

Luckily, Jason’s sentence was commuted and he paroled in August of 2023 after serving 28 years in the California prison system. He found work within the first month of release as a Credible Messenger for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and last month just joined the Defy team as our new entrepreneurship manager. When asked what the Defy program did for him, Jason humbly said, "It brought my smile back."

These examples reflect the broader, exponential impact of Defy’s work in creating future leaders who are already making transformative contributions to Los Angeles communities.

Additionally, we secured an incredible partnership with Google’s Playa Vista team, where over 60 Googlers participated in a community coaching night. This event focused on resume building, LinkedIn profile creation, and headshots for our EITs, providing critical professional support to help them succeed in their reentry journey.

Our core metrics reflect the effectiveness of our program:

- Recidivism remains below 10%, far surpassing the state average of 67%. - Employment rates for participants stand at 84% within the first year of release. - Our expanded volunteer base continues to provide essential support, with many transitioning into long-term mentorship roles or finding innovative ways to engage, such as hosting workshops, creating scholarships, and offering unique opportunities for our EITs.

While the majority of our programs were implemented as planned, we did pilot a new curriculum aimed at transitional-aged youth (18-25) who were not previously incarcerated. This initiative presented some challenges in engagement and deliverable completion, leading us to recognize the need for adjustments in our curriculum. Moving forward, we will be refining the program to better meet the needs of this demographic.

One of our most notable accomplishments has been securing a $750,000 grant from the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) for a two-year period. This substantial funding will allow us to continue expanding our reach and improving our programs.

Additionally, our new partnership with The Change Reaction has been transformative. Through the Upward Fund, we are able to provide monthly stipends of $425 for a year to EITs earning between $25K and $75K, supporting their entrepreneurial and professional goals. The Angel Fund also allows us to assist EITs facing one-time financial difficulties, helping them cover unexpected costs like car repairs or job loss, which could otherwise derail their reentry process.

Defy SoCal has received considerable attention through volunteer posts and engagement on LinkedIn. Many of these posts, using the hashtag #defytheodds, showcase the stories of our EITs and the volunteers who have become deeply involved in supporting their journeys.

Looking ahead, we are committed to continuing and expanding our programs both inside prisons and within our communities. As more individuals are released, we expect to see even greater leadership and impact from our EITs in Los Angeles County. Given that 35% of the currently incarcerated population in California originates from LA County, the potential for community transformation is significant.

Our vision for scaling involves capturing these impactful stories and building more partnerships with foundations and philanthropists throughout the region. We will continue to advocate for fair chance hiring and create more opportunities for system-impacted individuals to thrive as leaders and contributors to LA County's economy.

Once again, thank you so much for your transformative partnership, and I look forward to seeing how we can broaden our impact in 2024!

Best regards,

Quan Huynh

Executive Director, Southern California

Defy Ventures