You talked about, your background with your family as like public servants.
 2
00:00:05.238 --> 00:00:09.876 Did that contribute to the man you are today or your transformation?
 3
00:00:10.610 --> 00:00:11.711 It did. Absolutely.
 4
00:00:11.711 --> 00:00:15.982 My grandmother was a person who cleaned houses 3 to 4 days a week.
 5
00:00:15.982 --> 00:00:19.953 And then on the other days, she was helping unhoused people, women,
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00:00:19.953 --> 00:00:24.090 particularly, fill out paperwork and stuff before they were able to get their,
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00:00:24.824 --> 00:00:28.328 Social Security, GR, and things like that.
 8
00:00:28.895 --> 00:00:31.765 And my mother, she was a United Auto Workers
 9
00:00:31.765 --> 00:00:34.834 union representative, so I learned a lot from her.
 10
00:00:35.502 --> 00:00:37.103 Growing up in in that household,
 11
00:00:38.538 --> 00:00:41.107 you know, when you're when I was younger, I didn't really appreciate, like,
 12
00:00:41.107 --> 00:00:41.708 all the lessons
 13
00:00:41.708 --> 00:00:45.712 that were being taught to me, like, just being in proximity to my family.
 14
00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:49.315 But they showed up later on while I was incarcerated.
 15
00:00:49.916 --> 00:00:54.421 And there was this whole ideal of, solidarity as part of the UAW slogan.
 16
00:00:54.421 --> 00:00:59.225 And I saw, like, there was a need for solidarity amongst our population.
 17
00:00:59.225 --> 00:01:03.229 While I was in, I was incarcerated at California State Prison, Los Angeles
 18
00:01:03.229 --> 00:01:06.766 County, for about ten years, the last ten years of my incarceration.
 19
00:01:07.434 --> 00:01:10.937 And there was a lot of men there that were also serving life without parole.
 20
00:01:11.204 --> 00:01:14.207 And we were running our own classes.
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00:01:14.474 --> 00:01:17.744 And it was in those classes that we created,
 22
00:01:17.744 --> 00:01:20.080 like support groups for each other.
 23
00:01:20.080 --> 00:01:23.550 And I ended up becoming involved with a support group
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00:01:23.550 --> 00:01:26.719 in there of men called the Men For Honor.
 25
00:01:26.886 --> 00:01:29.889 They gave me, my first job was to pass up a list
 26
00:01:29.956 --> 00:01:32.992 to get people out of the buildings, and that was the best job ever.
 27
00:01:32.992 --> 00:01:36.629 That was the first job that I had in prison, where I was super excited to have
 28
00:01:37.330 --> 00:01:39.799 because I was like, I was responsible for something that actually dealt
 29
00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:42.802 with the people, and I would pass that list out.
 30
00:01:42.802 --> 00:01:46.206 And in about two months later, I was actually like the chairman
 31
00:01:46.206 --> 00:01:50.510 of the program, and all of us were we were like in this place of desperation.
 32
00:01:50.910 --> 00:01:53.780 And but at the same time we saw hope.
 33
00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:58.284 And so it went from wanting to come home to wanting to be a better human being,
 34
00:01:58.651 --> 00:02:02.322 wanting to give back for the harm that we caused, those type of things.
 35
00:02:02.622 --> 00:02:06.860 So when the education component came in, we just married the two ideas,
 36
00:02:06.860 --> 00:02:11.030 because now we went from learning about like who we were
 37
00:02:11.064 --> 00:02:14.067 to how they apply to real world situations.
 38
00:02:14.501 --> 00:02:16.402 And I had this vision,
 39
00:02:16.402 --> 00:02:19.739 there were other things going on at the institution, like higher education
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00:02:20.206 --> 00:02:24.811 was something that the men there took it upon themselves to pursue.
 41
00:02:25.011 --> 00:02:29.015 We had men there who said, well, we can do correspondence courses.
 42
00:02:29.549 --> 00:02:32.552 And if, if K buys a book
 43
00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:36.089 and then Allen buys a book and then the next person who comes to the
 44
00:02:36.823 --> 00:02:40.293 institution wants to get involved in education, all he has to do is buy a book
 45
00:02:40.727 --> 00:02:41.794 and we'll share these books.
 46
00:02:41.794 --> 00:02:46.666 And we ended up over 300 to 400 people who graduated with
 47
00:02:46.666 --> 00:02:50.203 a associates degree, based on the forward thinking of those men,
 48
00:02:50.770 --> 00:02:55.770 so that, those leadership qualities were manifesting like in real time.
 49
00:02:55.942 --> 00:02:57.844 Right? It wasn't like you're not born with that stuff.
 50
00:02:57.844 --> 00:02:59.646 Like it's something that you learn, you adopted.
 51
00:02:59.646 --> 00:03:03.917 Maybe some people are, but in that time process, then that's when Cal State L.A.
 52
00:03:03.917 --> 00:03:07.854 one of the professors came and he was involved with a dog program,
 53
00:03:08.288 --> 00:03:12.559 and then we had a dog program there, and he came to adopt a dog.
 54
00:03:12.559 --> 00:03:15.962 And he says, like all these men here have five, six, seven
 55
00:03:16.162 --> 00:03:19.132 associates degrees, like they need higher education.
 56
00:03:19.566 --> 00:03:23.836 And so that was the birth of like, why we had a BA, in-person BA
 57
00:03:24.837 --> 00:03:25.772 program there
 58
00:03:25.772 --> 00:03:29.008 at Cal State L.A., but to your point, like,
 59
00:03:29.576 --> 00:03:34.347 my upbringing was something that I grew to appreciate
 60
00:03:34.881 --> 00:03:38.818 during the process of my transformation, my growth and development.
 61
00:03:38.818 --> 00:03:43.089 I would often I would call my mom, like ask her questions about
 62
00:03:43.489 --> 00:03:45.625 how should I do this? How should I do that?
 63
00:03:45.625 --> 00:03:48.828 And her number one thing is like, you have to have a personal relationship
 64
00:03:49.128 --> 00:03:51.965 with each and every person that works with you.
 65
00:03:51.965 --> 00:03:54.334 You can't treat everybody as if they're just one entity.
 66
00:03:54.334 --> 00:03:58.304 You need to know who you're working with and find out what's going on with them.
 67
00:03:59.172 --> 00:04:02.308 And that's some of the things that I, like in my role now,
 68
00:04:02.342 --> 00:04:06.813 I've taken that same mindset and apply it to like what we do at the Prism Way.
 

I caused harm and was sentenced to life without parole. I served 28 years before my sentence was commuted, and I used that time to better myself and my opportunities through education.

My days start early with time for myself before diving into a steady stream of emails, grant writing, and team check-ins. I work closely with staff, support reentry programs, and build partnerships that help our mission grow. Every decision I make is guided by empathy, lived experience, and a deep commitment to healing communities.

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Integrity & Authenticity

Support & Encouragement

Finding Support And Developing Leadership Qualities In Prison

As women leave prison and they show up here
 2
00:00:04.704 --> 00:00:09.676 and you get to witness folks that are starting their journey.
 3
00:00:09.709 --> 00:00:12.445 What's that experience like for you?
 4
00:00:12.445 --> 00:00:14.914 Well, I actually ran into a woman today.
 5
00:00:14.914 --> 00:00:18.151 This morning, my apprenticeship coordinator alerted me
 6
00:00:18.151 --> 00:00:20.787 that there was a female who had just released from prison,
 7
00:00:20.787 --> 00:00:23.757 another TRAC graduate almost 20 years later.
 8
00:00:23.757 --> 00:00:25.091 Very cool.
 9
00:00:25.091 --> 00:00:27.694 But she was down here this morning waiting for dispatch,
 10
00:00:27.694 --> 00:00:30.764 waiting to get a job, and he said, hey, will you introduce yourself?
 11
00:00:30.764 --> 00:00:31.431 Of course.
 12
00:00:31.431 --> 00:00:34.634 You know. So I ran down here, found her.
 13
00:00:34.634 --> 00:00:38.238 Hey, I'm Yvonne, and you can see the fear in her eyes, right?
 14
00:00:38.238 --> 00:00:41.041 I'm out in this environment.
 15
00:00:41.041 --> 00:00:43.476 I just got out of prison. I don't know anything.
 16
00:00:43.476 --> 00:00:47.614 And just to make them feel comfortable and to support them.
 17
00:00:47.614 --> 00:00:47.981 Right.
 18
00:00:47.981 --> 00:00:52.419 But it's also really rewarding to see that it's still happening.
 19
00:00:52.419 --> 00:00:56.056 There's still these success stories that, like mine,
 20
00:00:56.056 --> 00:00:59.059 right, that your whole life is in front of you.
 21
00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:01.828 I own my own home. I'm married.
 22
00:01:01.828 --> 00:01:06.099 I have a family, I sometimes I realize, like, how did I get here?
 23
00:01:06.466 --> 00:01:11.204 You know, and all it took was to just show up and follow the lead
 24
00:01:11.204 --> 00:01:14.274 that they've placed in front of me, you know, follow this path.
 25
00:01:14.274 --> 00:01:17.744 And I love running towards a new woman
 26
00:01:17.744 --> 00:01:21.514 that has just gotten out and showing them what's possible.
 

If you're looking to get into the trades, I'd recommend doing so straight after high school. My 4-year apprenticeship gave me the majority of the credits I needed for my associate degree. I also became a certified welder, crane signalman and rigger, forklift operator, and certified in CPR and first aid. I've received training from my union to become a superintendent and business owner. They continue to help us grow and reach that next step in life while allowing us to work at the same time.

Working in a male dominated field can be difficult at times. However, I can do anything any of the male ironworkers can do. It helps to get to know the men and show them that I'm here to work just as hard.

Going to prison has caused a lot of harm but it's also where I was exposed to the TRAC program, which propelled me to pursue a career as an ironworker.

A typical day at the office starts at 4 a.m.—beating the traffic and getting tools on by 6. We meet up with our crews, go over the day’s tasks together, and then do whatever it takes to get it done safely. Ironworkers work everywhere: on the working floor, in the basements, out in the dirt, and on busy city sidewalks. The day ends shortly around 2 or 3 p.m. I leave the job with sore feet and the kind of satisfaction that only comes from a hard day’s work.

Construction Foreman

Supporting Other Formerly-Incarcerated Women

During that time, I had to go to law school and work internships
 2
00:00:03.269 --> 00:00:08.008 and started a nonprofit and, you know, said yes to every opportunity
 3
00:00:08.174 --> 00:00:13.174 that I was given because I needed to build a career.
 4
00:00:13.446 --> 00:00:17.150 And I found a lot of support.
 5
00:00:17.150 --> 00:00:20.320 At that time, there wasn't very many people who've been in prison
 6
00:00:20.587 --> 00:00:24.457 who were then sharing their stories to judges, to elected officials.
 7
00:00:24.457 --> 00:00:28.361 And I co-founded the first organization in Washington
 8
00:00:28.361 --> 00:00:31.331 that is led by and for formerly incarcerated people
 9
00:00:31.331 --> 00:00:33.867 and was teaching other people in our community
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00:00:33.867 --> 00:00:36.870 how to share your stories and why it's so powerful.
 11
00:00:37.003 --> 00:00:42.003 And as we changed the laws together, then I saw the need for them
 12
00:00:42.675 --> 00:00:46.846 to have an attorney to represent them so we can vacate our criminal records now.
 13
00:00:46.846 --> 00:00:47.680 Okay, great.
 14
00:00:47.680 --> 00:00:49.849 But you have to file a motion, go to court,
 15
00:00:49.849 --> 00:00:51.284 and people don't know how to do that.
 16
00:00:51.284 --> 00:00:54.687 And there's no legal aid that focuses on this issue area.
 17
00:00:55.088 --> 00:00:57.490 And so, you know, as I was going to law school,
 18
00:00:57.490 --> 00:01:01.094 I was creating pathways for people to get access to an attorney.
 19
00:01:01.261 --> 00:01:05.565 And I just wanted to make sure everyone had access to rebuilding their lives. And,
 20
00:01:06.533 --> 00:01:08.268 so I, you know, did everything I could.
 21
00:01:08.268 --> 00:01:11.738 The governor appointed me to like, two boards while I was in law school.
 22
00:01:12.038 --> 00:01:17.038 I graduated magna cum laude with, like, the Dean's medal and all of this.
 23
00:01:17.077 --> 00:01:21.081 And, you know, I always knew that I would have to face the character
 24
00:01:21.081 --> 00:01:24.517 and fitness board when I graduated because
 25
00:01:24.551 --> 00:01:27.754 everyone who has a criminal record has to go through this process.
 26
00:01:27.754 --> 00:01:32.525 I was very shocked when I went for my hearing and had,
 27
00:01:32.692 --> 00:01:36.763 like, the best attorney in the state who'd been doing it for 35 years,
 28
00:01:36.763 --> 00:01:41.501 and the best people testifying on my behalf, and over 100 letters
 29
00:01:41.501 --> 00:01:46.501 of support from prosecutors and judges, even, and law school professors
 30
00:01:46.539 --> 00:01:50.777 and people in recovery, therapists who knew me, so many people.
 31
00:01:51.344 --> 00:01:55.048 And they decided 6 to 3 that I didn't have the character
 32
00:01:55.048 --> 00:01:58.351 and fitness necessary to become a lawyer because of my past.
 33
00:01:58.818 --> 00:02:01.154 It wasn't just me that was devastated.
 34
00:02:01.154 --> 00:02:04.390 I think a whole community of people were because it was like,
 35
00:02:04.991 --> 00:02:08.161 if she works that hard, and then she's still told no, what hope do I have?
 36
00:02:08.228 --> 00:02:09.129 You know.
 37
00:02:09.129 --> 00:02:13.366 The reasons they gave for not allowing me to sit for the bar exam
 38
00:02:13.566 --> 00:02:16.936 were that they thought I was too proud of my accomplishments
 39
00:02:17.137 --> 00:02:19.139 because I had gotten the Skadden fellowship,
 40
00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:22.142 which, you know, it's been around for 32 years and
 41
00:02:22.142 --> 00:02:25.145 nobody from our school had ever gotten that fellowship.
 42
00:02:25.245 --> 00:02:27.647 Nobody from Washington State had ever gotten it.
 43
00:02:27.647 --> 00:02:30.016 No formally incarcerated person had ever gotten it.
 44
00:02:30.016 --> 00:02:34.721 And it was, a very competitive process, thousands of applications.
 45
00:02:34.988 --> 00:02:37.991 And it funded me to do the work I wanted to do for two years,
 46
00:02:38.224 --> 00:02:40.426 which was to help other formerly incarcerated people.
 47
00:02:40.426 --> 00:02:41.928 And I was very proud of that.
 48
00:02:41.928 --> 00:02:45.832 But, you know, for some of the people on the character and fitness board, that
 49
00:02:45.832 --> 00:02:49.369 was seen as a negative for being proud, and that's not the way it was.
 50
00:02:49.369 --> 00:02:51.971 It was like I overcame a lot in my life.
 51
00:02:51.971 --> 00:02:54.340 And so I am proud of where I've come.
 52
00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:58.144 And so I was so thankful when my network came together
 53
00:02:58.478 --> 00:03:01.447 and decided, we're going to appeal to the Supreme Court.
 54
00:03:01.581 --> 00:03:03.683 And that had never been done before.
 55
00:03:03.683 --> 00:03:08.154 And so, you know, on the day of that hearing, I left the Temple of Justice.
 56
00:03:08.154 --> 00:03:09.088 It was filled to
 57
00:03:09.088 --> 00:03:12.825 the brim and I left the day and I thought it would be like five months
 58
00:03:12.825 --> 00:03:16.629 or seven months, whatever, before I'd hear the decision again.
 59
00:03:16.629 --> 00:03:21.629 But later that day, in a huge shock and surprise to my legal counsel
 60
00:03:22.802 --> 00:03:27.802 to everybody, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously, that I could become a lawyer.
 

 had my first child when I was 15 years old. CPS told me they'd take my child away if I didn't complete school, so I worked hard, got my GED at 16, and started going to community college so that I could build a life for us.

My childhood trauma manifested in bad decisions with relationships and substances. I ended up getting clean through Narcotics Anonymous while in prison.

I had a few run-ins with the legal system and the stigma of a criminal record really affected my employment opportunities. I gave up on life and gave into my addiction, and ended up in prison. There I was exposed to recovery and a path forward.

My focus is to pass laws that restore rights, expand access to education, and reduce harm in the legal system. I've worked on multiple bills, including ones to expand education in prisons, vacate records, and restore voting and firearm rights. I also help other lawmakers understand prison education policy by prepping advocates and building coalitions. I work hard to represent people like me, who were once told they didn’t belong in rooms like these.

Washington State Representative

You can't become a lawyer because of your past.

Adversity

My Journey To Becoming A Lawyer

Looking
 2
00:00:01.267 --> 00:00:04.270 back, right when you started your journey,
 3
00:00:04.637 --> 00:00:08.708 what do you know now that you wish you would have known then?
 4
00:00:09.709 --> 00:00:12.812 Okay, well, going into prison, what I wish I would have knew
 5
00:00:12.812 --> 00:00:15.815 then is don't go.
 6
00:00:17.183 --> 00:00:18.284 Whatever you do,
 7
00:00:18.284 --> 00:00:21.287 do not end up in prison.
 8
00:00:22.455 --> 00:00:26.059 But, I was 24 when I went to prison,
 9
00:00:26.059 --> 00:00:30.463 and my first time being involved with the criminal legal punishment system,
 10
00:00:31.498 --> 00:00:36.102 and I was recently released from the military.
 11
00:00:36.302 --> 00:00:41.302 You know, I'd been home maybe a year and a half, and I got to CIW.
 12
00:00:41.841 --> 00:00:46.246 And I really didn't know how I was going to do a life sentence,
 13
00:00:47.213 --> 00:00:50.383 but it was the women in that prison that really supported
 14
00:00:50.383 --> 00:00:53.686 me and saw things within me that I really didn't see in myself,
 15
00:00:53.686 --> 00:00:57.424 because I was so full of shame and embarrassment and guilt.
 16
00:00:57.957 --> 00:01:00.994 I didn't know what I was going to do or how to do it.
 17
00:01:01.327 --> 00:01:06.327 But I saw them in class, and I saw them painting and participating
 18
00:01:06.699 --> 00:01:11.699 in all kinds of leadership programs, and really changing the environment
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00:01:11.771 --> 00:01:15.842 and the landscape of the prison into something that they wanted it to be.
 20
00:01:16.443 --> 00:01:18.845 And so what I wish I knew
 21
00:01:18.845 --> 00:01:21.915 then is that community lives in prison.
 22
00:01:22.182 --> 00:01:27.182 Opportunities among your peers are important in that I would have
 23
00:01:27.387 --> 00:01:32.387 relationships and build friendships with people that would last a lifetime.
 24
00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:33.726 I didn't know that then.
 25
00:01:33.726 --> 00:01:35.095 I know that now.
 26
00:01:35.095 --> 00:01:37.564 Post release, that I can do anything.
 27
00:01:38.531 --> 00:01:41.534 You know, if you can survive
 28
00:01:41.801 --> 00:01:44.737 prison, living in a six by ten, an eight by ten,
 29
00:01:44.737 --> 00:01:48.808 a four by six solitary confinement, you can do anything.
 30
00:01:49.242 --> 00:01:51.344 We are superheroes when we come out,
 31
00:01:51.344 --> 00:01:55.081 we have to see ourselves not only as survivors and people
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00:01:55.081 --> 00:01:59.152 who have this lived experience, but people who have overcome it.
 33
00:01:59.552 --> 00:02:03.590 And if you can overcome that, there is nothing we can't do.
 

You can enter this field with or without a degree. The most important thing is to have heart for the work.

I was sentenced to life in prison when I was 24 years old. I was filled with shame and guilt. The other women in prison really supported me and saw things in me that I didn't see in myself. I know now after surviving prison that I can do anything.

Each day, I bridge two worlds—college campuses and prison classrooms—leading justice education across the Claremont Colleges. My work includes recruiting and supporting faculty, building Inside-Out courses, mentoring students, and shaping a new major in Justice Education. I collaborate across campuses to design curriculum, expand programs, and advocate for policy change that supports reentry and reimagines justice.

Founding Senior Director, Claremont Justice Education Center

There's no way the Claremont Colleges will allow a 47-year old Black woman who just served 23 years in prison on their campuses.

Community

Overcoming Prison

What's your like word of advice, you know, to people
 2
00:00:01.901 --> 00:00:05.038 going through adversity in business and and they want to give up.
 3
00:00:05.572 --> 00:00:10.572 Ask for advice if you can get it or for people to share their experiences.
 4
00:00:10.777 --> 00:00:14.247 Last year was probably my worst year in business ever.
 5
00:00:14.381 --> 00:00:15.982 It was just it was awful.
 6
00:00:15.982 --> 00:00:19.686 One of the things that really, really helped me, though, was I was to a point
 7
00:00:19.686 --> 00:00:21.421 where it's like, I'm just going to close it all down.
 8
00:00:21.421 --> 00:00:23.656 I'm just done. I don't want to deal with it anymore.
 9
00:00:23.656 --> 00:00:26.326 I reached out to my my business group,
 10
00:00:26.326 --> 00:00:29.329 EO and I just said, I need help.
 11
00:00:29.396 --> 00:00:31.197 I need somebody to talk to.
 12
00:00:31.197 --> 00:00:32.399 This is what's happening.
 13
00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:36.503 And I got, you know, a number of responses saying, hey, I've been there.
 14
00:00:36.803 --> 00:00:38.405 Let's get together and have a coffee.
 15
00:00:38.405 --> 00:00:40.540 We'll talk, and it was just so great.
 16
00:00:40.540 --> 00:00:44.944 Had I not had that, I, I probably we wouldn't be here now.
 17
00:00:45.145 --> 00:00:46.646 And go with your gut.
 18
00:00:46.646 --> 00:00:49.682 I mean, your gut is going to tell you try to try to get rid of,
 19
00:00:49.883 --> 00:00:51.751 you know, the stuff in your head, but go with your gut.
 20
00:00:51.751 --> 00:00:54.487 Your gut knows, you know, if your gut saying,
 21
00:00:55.622 --> 00:00:58.358 stop don't do it anymore, then don't do it anymore.
 22
00:00:58.358 --> 00:00:59.759 That's what your guts telling you.
 23
00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:02.629 If you don't have it in you anymore, then you don't have it in you anymore.
 24
00:01:02.629 --> 00:01:06.366 It's it's in the individual personal decision that you have to make.
 25
00:01:06.666 --> 00:01:09.669 And what's the worst that's going to happen?
 26
00:01:09.969 --> 00:01:12.972 World's not going to stop spinning and nobody's going to die.
 27
00:01:12.972 --> 00:01:16.676 failure is not failure or failure is just an opportunity to learn something.
 28
00:01:17.377 --> 00:01:20.180 And it's like, oh, okay, I know that didn't work.
 29
00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:22.348 Well I'll put that in my pocket and move on.
 

My days are a mix of networking, managing our team, and guiding clients through the remodeling process. I don’t swing the hammer much anymore, but I keep the business humming, from sales calls to subcontractor schedules. I love helping people turn their homes into places they truly love.

Owner

Failure

Advice For People Struggling With Their Business

So I'm just curious about like, did you have any like,
 2
00:00:02.635 --> 00:00:06.773 mentors or sponsors or anyone that helped you, build AmyWorks?
 3
00:00:07.073 --> 00:00:10.043 Oh yeah.
 4
00:00:10.043 --> 00:00:11.845 I started with, a friend
 5
00:00:11.845 --> 00:00:14.948 that helped me do that, and it wasn't much financing.
 6
00:00:14.948 --> 00:00:18.318 It was like I needed $1,500, and I borrowed $1,500
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00:00:18.318 --> 00:00:21.888 to get my license, my insurance, and my bond, to start that out.
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00:00:21.888 --> 00:00:24.591 And then I had, another friend who was working with me,
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00:00:24.591 --> 00:00:27.627 and he's actually the one that came up with the name AmyWorks.
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00:00:28.028 --> 00:00:29.295 And I'm like, okay, let's do that.
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00:00:29.295 --> 00:00:34.295 And then I had this, this woman that, we were in a band together, right?
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00:00:35.268 --> 00:00:38.638 But she did graphic design, and she, designed my logo,
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00:00:38.905 --> 00:00:41.908 so we did some trade, I went did some work for her.
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00:00:42.542 --> 00:00:44.844 She designed the logo, so that was kind of cool.
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00:00:44.844 --> 00:00:47.013 It didn't cost me anything. You know, the bartering thing.
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00:00:47.013 --> 00:00:47.914 I love bartering,
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00:00:47.914 --> 00:00:51.818 But it was recommended to me when I first started with the franchise.
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00:00:51.818 --> 00:00:54.821 That the one big thing was, was networking.
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00:00:54.921 --> 00:00:57.557 There's also coaching, right.
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00:00:57.557 --> 00:01:00.493 There's there's professional business coaches out there.
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00:01:00.493 --> 00:01:01.995 my first business coach.
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00:01:01.995 --> 00:01:03.096 I was, I was in business
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00:01:03.096 --> 00:01:06.833 probably only six months before I actually had a business coach.
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00:01:07.434 --> 00:01:10.937 And the very first meeting that I had with her,
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00:01:11.071 --> 00:01:14.074 she said, what do you what are you charging for an hourly rate?
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00:01:14.074 --> 00:01:16.543 And I said, $45.
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00:01:16.543 --> 00:01:18.511 And she's like, you need to raise it.
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00:01:18.511 --> 00:01:19.746 So I raised it to 50.
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00:01:19.746 --> 00:01:23.316 Went back in the following month and she said, okay did you raise it? Yes.
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00:01:23.316 --> 00:01:25.151 Have you gotten any complaints from clients?
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00:01:25.151 --> 00:01:27.220 No. You need to raise it again.
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00:01:27.220 --> 00:01:31.157 And it was just having that, and I've always had a coach or a coaching
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00:01:31.157 --> 00:01:35.195 business or somebody that was there that I could lean on- I have a coach now.
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00:01:35.295 --> 00:01:36.996 I have an executive coach now.
 

Relying On Support From Others When Starting My Business

You know if you reflect back, you know to your younger self
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00:00:02.902 --> 00:00:05.472 and to your future self, what would you tell yourself?
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00:00:05.472 --> 00:00:08.208 Like, you know, this is you know, this is how to go through things.
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00:00:08.208 --> 00:00:10.844 I don't know if my younger self would have listened, honestly.
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00:00:10.844 --> 00:00:14.347 I mean, at this point right now, I think if my younger self could see me,
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00:00:15.015 --> 00:00:16.583 they'd be lost for words.
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00:00:16.583 --> 00:00:19.953 We were in a pretty dark place, and, you know, it's a long story short, but
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00:00:20.487 --> 00:00:24.557 I ended up going straight to, to work after high school because my father
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00:00:24.557 --> 00:00:28.728 at the time was disabled, and my mother, had just been incarcerated.
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00:00:28.762 --> 00:00:31.731 And you want to talk about depression and not having a direction?
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00:00:31.731 --> 00:00:33.500 That's exactly where I was.
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00:00:33.500 --> 00:00:34.567 I didn't know what was next.
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00:00:34.567 --> 00:00:37.537 And, I was really fearful of what was happening to my family.
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00:00:37.537 --> 00:00:39.205 But doors opened.
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00:00:39.205 --> 00:00:42.208 The community around me stepped up to support me.
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00:00:42.375 --> 00:00:43.576 And I did have a group of people
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00:00:43.576 --> 00:00:45.779 who believed in the things that I talked about.
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00:00:45.779 --> 00:00:47.580 And I think that's such an important element, right?
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00:00:47.580 --> 00:00:48.848 Like your dreams shouldn't
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00:00:48.848 --> 00:00:51.851 just be things that people laugh at and change the station on.
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00:00:51.851 --> 00:00:53.386 They should they should invest.
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00:00:53.386 --> 00:00:56.589 You know, when I said, hey, like, I see myself moving out of Philadelphia
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00:00:56.589 --> 00:00:57.924 one day, you know, people
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00:00:57.924 --> 00:01:01.261 that ask me, oh, where and what does, your first apartment look like?
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00:01:01.728 --> 00:01:05.632 These conversations really help promote the idea that it could happen.
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00:01:05.698 --> 00:01:06.533 And so,
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00:01:06.533 --> 00:01:10.603 navigating what was going on at home with my family having a big why, right?
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00:01:10.603 --> 00:01:14.007 The reason why I was working also helped propel me forward.
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00:01:14.174 --> 00:01:15.775 Because again, you got two outcomes, right?
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00:01:15.775 --> 00:01:17.977 Things stay the same or they change.
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00:01:17.977 --> 00:01:19.712 I needed things to change badly.
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00:01:19.712 --> 00:01:21.614 And I needed them to change for my entire family.
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00:01:21.614 --> 00:01:25.318 So I told you earlier, you know, you'll go through a bad day and bad days happen.
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00:01:25.318 --> 00:01:28.788 But I am a living testament to the idea
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00:01:28.788 --> 00:01:31.958 that what's coming is so much better than what's happening right now.
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00:01:32.325 --> 00:01:33.860 I can promise you that.
 

In the tech world, you don't necessarily need a college degree. Certifications are a more cost-effective way to build skills and break into tech. However, if you have C-suite aspirations, it may be a good idea to pursue a bachelor's degree and MBA. I recommend taking a moment to map out what exactly it is that you want. Build a vision board. Figure out what you want first and then map the route it takes to get there.

I went into the workforce after high school because my father was disabled and my mother was incarcerated. It was a dark time. I struggled with depression and lacked direction. My faith and the support of my community is what pushed me forward.

Each day, I design learning experiences and partner with Fortune 50–500 companies to help them build equitable, inclusive cultures. I research, develop curricula, and collaborate across teams to ensure our programs open doors for diverse talent.

Associate Director, Learning & Advisory Services

Perseverance

How I Persevered Through Adversity

Do you have any, like, mentors or people that, like, were very big help to you
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00:00:03.136 --> 00:00:05.271 while you were, like, trying to find yourself?
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00:00:05.271 --> 00:00:06.039 Absolutely.
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00:00:06.039 --> 00:00:08.041 I mentioned my high school guidance counselor
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00:00:08.041 --> 00:00:09.976 throughout the time that I was incarcerated,
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00:00:09.976 --> 00:00:13.480 literally being a huge support system of somebody that would send cards,
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00:00:13.680 --> 00:00:17.083 send letters inspiring things that this would not define you.
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00:00:17.317 --> 00:00:18.351 You're going to be great.
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00:00:18.351 --> 00:00:21.154 Literally saw things in myself that I didn't see in myself.
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00:00:21.154 --> 00:00:23.156 Right like that, there's a power in that.
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00:00:23.156 --> 00:00:26.059 And I literally to this day, like, they're like my guardian angel.
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00:00:26.059 --> 00:00:28.261 I wouldn't be where I am without people like her.
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00:00:28.261 --> 00:00:32.032 And I've just been really blessed that throughout the journey I've had different
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00:00:32.032 --> 00:00:33.299 mentors, people
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00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:37.237 that I've just, you know, respected and have been loving and supporting on me.
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00:00:37.237 --> 00:00:40.240 So I think it's important to try to find people who are doing it
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00:00:40.440 --> 00:00:44.210 connected to it, who literally you can try to tap into.
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00:00:44.544 --> 00:00:47.781 And everybody may not say yes, but they may be one person decide to say,
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00:00:47.781 --> 00:00:51.618 hey, I've got a young Ronnie that I see in me and I want to help him.
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00:00:51.618 --> 00:00:54.721 And, literally decides to give you the wisdom and knowledge
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00:00:54.721 --> 00:00:56.456 that they wish they had at 21.
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00:00:56.456 --> 00:00:59.459 But I am a firm believer, It's hard to be what you don't see.
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00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:01.728 And if you want to accomplish certain things.
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00:01:01.728 --> 00:01:02.295 I feel like
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00:01:02.295 --> 00:01:04.697 when I go to talk to young people in high schools, I say,
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00:01:04.697 --> 00:01:07.300 how many people want to have a nice car? Everybody raise their hands.
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00:01:07.300 --> 00:01:09.502 How many people want to have a nice house, everybody raise their hands.
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00:01:09.502 --> 00:01:12.739 And then when you get down and say, well, how many people do you know
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00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:14.074 that have a house that they own?
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00:01:14.074 --> 00:01:15.642 How people do, you know, they have a nice car
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00:01:15.642 --> 00:01:17.010 and obviously the numbers come down.
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00:01:17.010 --> 00:01:19.412 And it's like, well, if that's what you aspire to do,
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00:01:19.412 --> 00:01:23.083 why don't you get connected to those people to learn what it took
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00:01:23.083 --> 00:01:24.017 for them to be able to get there?
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00:01:24.017 --> 00:01:26.219 They may not necessarily be the same path for you,
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00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:27.787 but at least you have some sense
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00:01:27.787 --> 00:01:30.824 of a framework of information and knowledge to be able to leverage.
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00:01:30.824 --> 00:01:31.791 Tap into,
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00:01:31.791 --> 00:01:33.326 so you're not having to probably make
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00:01:33.326 --> 00:01:36.329 as many mistakes as I made, or the generation before me made.
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00:01:36.329 --> 00:01:39.032 You kind of expedited your process, potentially
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00:01:39.032 --> 00:01:41.401 to be able to get to those things that you want to have.
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00:01:41.401 --> 00:01:44.737 And you want to accomplish versus having to just figure it out on your own.
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00:01:44.737 --> 00:01:47.874 But there's a value in doing your own research and googling as you,
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00:01:48.108 --> 00:01:49.142 young people do.
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00:01:49.142 --> 00:01:51.211 But it's still something to be said for what
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00:01:51.211 --> 00:01:54.214 the human experience is, and being able to accomplish those things
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00:01:54.214 --> 00:01:56.049 and being proximate enough to be able to have it.
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00:01:56.049 --> 00:01:57.217 So yes, tons of mentors
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00:01:57.217 --> 00:02:01.154 and I truly wouldn't be where I am today without having the mentors that I've had.
 

While I was growing up, my mother battled addiction and I didn’t know my father, so my extended family stepped in to raise me, teaching me resilience and service.

I went to college straight out of high school but I wasn't quite ready for that level of responsibility at that age. I decided to leave college and then reinvest in my education later in life when I was ready.

I made some wrong choices and ended up incarcerated for about a year. It really made me reevaluate my life and focus in on a plan for my future.

I spend my days helping faculty solve their tech issues at MIT. Each day is different. One moment I’m walking an older faculty member through the basics, the next I’m guiding a young professional through complex systems. I love making people feel supported, helping them navigate fast-changing technology, and ensuring they leave our interactions more confident and capable.

Support & Encouragement

Finding Support And Developing Leadership Qualities In Prison

Finding Support And Developing Leadership Qualities In Prison

Allen Burnett

1084 videos on Support & Encouragement: