The transition from prison to the real world can be a very difficult process, but thanks to one Ohio organization, inmates at one local correctional facility have the tools to make their wishes come true.
“We teach men that you can reinvent yourselves. You can recognize what got you here. You can rebuild your family, you can redefine the way you think and you can not only reinvent, but you get to reinvest in your community,” said Ron Tijerina, a Co-founder of Ridge Project.
Over the past nine months, five former WORTH center inmates, a part of the ridge program got the opportunity to make a business plan and put their vision into a reality.
Through the different class, coaching and mentors the inmates came up with a business plan and on March 25th they presented their plan to a panel of three judges in hopes of winning $1,000 and a business of their own.
Business ideas ranged from a barber shop, flipping houses, to scented lighters to a residential and commercial waterproofing business.
The winners say they are grateful to the program because it helped them put their visions into reality.
“I had thought about starting a business. Maybe dreams of starting a business, but it was just a thought,” said Nathan Watkins, the grand winner of the Ridge Project presentation. "The past six months I’ve done nothing but put the footwork and action into starting my business.”
“This is something that I’ve been thinking about for quite some time,” said Jonathan Barlett, a runner up award winner. “It was kind of just in the back of my head to have a flavor or scented lighter. I was never really able to put it into fruition, with everything going on. But in this atmosphere, I was able to culminate what I wanted to do.”
The facilitator for the program says he hopes that this helps them transform their lives.
“I hope it changes their lives. I hope they understand that the drugs they were running and the things that they were doing that their kids are going to do the same thing if they don’t go out and make that difference,” said Steven Roberts, the Ridge Project facilitator.
