What is Defy?

Defy Ventures is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and currently operating in 7 states from coast to coast. In 2018, Defy Ventures recognized the opportunity to expand services to Illinois, due to the state experiencing significant recidivism rates as well as an interest in creating pathways to financial independence for currently and formerly incarcerated residents. Each year, over 25,000 individuals are released from Illinois prisons and nearly half of them end up returning to prison within three years. The need for high-quality rehabilitative programming inside prison remains and people released from incarceration face daunting odds for a successful reentry. Similarly, without a concerted effort to shift public perceptions, specifically in the business community, the lack of post-incarceration economic opportunity will remain a fundamental obstacle to successful reintegration. This is where Defy comes in, with our programs to reduce recidivism and help people to defy the odds.

Defy Illinois currently operates our in-prison program, CEO of Your New Life (CEO YNL), at the Kewanee Life Skills Reentry Center, Pontiac Correctional Center, and the Logan Correctional Center. CEO YNL equips Defy’s program participants, whom we call Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs), with the skills necessary to give them their best shot at a second chance. The CEO YNL program spans eight months and features a rigorous curriculum and several day-long events with volunteers. True to its name, the program focuses EITs on becoming the CEOs of their new lives while incarcerated, so they can become the CEOs of their new careers or businesses (should they choose to start one) upon release.

Additionally, Defy Illinois provides services once people are released along our Career and Reentry Pathway. For those that want to pursue entrepreneurship, we also offer free Business Bootcamp and Accelerator programs, which include mentorship and access to funding for viable, scalable businesses.

Who do we serve and how do we accomplish our mission?

Formerly incarcerated people often find themselves in low-wage jobs with little room for economic mobility or career growth, which can perpetuate cycles of poverty for families and communities. Defy seeks to change this, and we have always been committed to creating the conditions for people with criminal histories to access opportunities to build businesses, create capital, and secure good jobs. This is why Defy’s unique “inside-outside” model serves both currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, so that people are supported in achieving these goals along their reentry journey.

Nationally, Defy has a less than 10% return-to-prison rate for one year and an 84% employment rate for program graduates, in addition to incubating over 150 small businesses since the organization’s inception.

How can members of CRS get involved?

Defy believes that the best way to challenge and change perceptions about both the criminal legal system and people with criminal histories is through intentional, person-to-person interactions that are built upon shared experience. Through our volunteer events, we are able to facilitate the restoration of humanity and self-worth for people with criminal histories as well as change perceptions among volunteers about people with criminal histories.

The human connections that result from Defy’s volunteer events have an intensely positive effect on the EITs, providing them with confidence and hope. As EIT Kunlyna said, “Who would have thought that strangers could have such a profound effect on another stranger?" And EIT James said, “Defy has helped me reconnect with humanity. Seeing people take time out of their schedules to come spend a day in prison with myself and other EITs is inspiring, and the experience has offered me a new sense of hope and a renewed sense of self-worth.”

Defy is unique because we are able to create a redemptive community that prioritizes fair chances for all people. We invite members of the CRS community to get involved with our mission by volunteering with us at a prison or community-based event. You can view available opportunities here.