• "However, for the good of America, it is necessary to refute the idea that the dominant ideology in our country, even today, is freedom and equality while racism is just an occasional departure from the norm on the part of a few bigoted extremists. Racism can well be that corrosive evil that will bring down the curtain on Western Civilization. [...] If America does not respond creatively to the challenge to banish racism, some future historian will have to say that a great civilization died because it lacked the soul and commitment to make justice a reality for all men." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, in his speech, "The Three Evils of Society" At Defy, our dream is that one day our work will not be needed, and America will be a country of freedom and justice for all. In the meantime, we honor Dr. King's legacy by continuing the work to shift the hearts and minds of society about people impacted by the criminal justice system—a system that disproportionately affects people of color. The time to act for a better future is always now. Join us this year in helping our country defy the odds and become a nation of justice for all! Photo credit: Julian Wasser
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    "However, for the good of America, it is necessary to refute the idea that the dominant ideology in our country, even today, is freedom and equality while racism is just an occasional departure from the norm on the part of a few bigoted extremists. Racism can well be that corrosive evil that will bring down the curtain on Western Civilization. [...] If America does not respond creatively to the challenge to banish racism, some future historian will have to say that a great civilization died because it lacked the soul and commitment to make justice a reality for all men." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, in his speech, "The Three Evils of Society" At Defy, our dream is that one day our work will not be needed, and America will be a country of freedom and justice for all. In the meantime, we honor Dr. King's legacy by continuing the work to shift the hearts and minds of society about people impacted by the criminal justice system—a system that disproportionately affects people of color. The time to act for a better future is always now. Join us this year in helping our country defy the odds and become a nation of justice for all! Photo credit: Julian Wasser
  • Congratulations to the seven Entrepreneurs in Training who graduated from Defy’s 14-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp program in Tri-State last month! Thank you to those volunteers who were able to virtually join us for the final pitch showcase and graduation, as well as to those who joined us for previous coaching nights and workshops throughout the program. We're excited to see some of these graduates take their business ideas to Defy's Accelerator! 👏 We are honored to have partnered with Exodus Transitional Community (@etcnyorg ) for this program. Read on for some words from Exodus about the program: 🗣 “Defy has been a tremendously positive experience for both the clients that we serve as well as the few criminal justice-impacted Exodus staff who were lucky enough to be selected to participate in the program. The Defy curriculum allowed our students an opportunity to challenge themselves by confronting their self-limiting belief systems, look at themselves in a strength-based way, and be guided through this process alongside a highly skilled and compassionate facilitator. Amazing program!!!” - Brian, Director of Business Development & Employment Services at Exodus
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    Congratulations to the seven Entrepreneurs in Training who graduated from Defy’s 14-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp program in Tri-State last month! Thank you to those volunteers who were able to virtually join us for the final pitch showcase and graduation, as well as to those who joined us for previous coaching nights and workshops throughout the program. We're excited to see some of these graduates take their business ideas to Defy's Accelerator! 👏 We are honored to have partnered with Exodus Transitional Community (@etcnyorg ) for this program. Read on for some words from Exodus about the program: 🗣 “Defy has been a tremendously positive experience for both the clients that we serve as well as the few criminal justice-impacted Exodus staff who were lucky enough to be selected to participate in the program. The Defy curriculum allowed our students an opportunity to challenge themselves by confronting their self-limiting belief systems, look at themselves in a strength-based way, and be guided through this process alongside a highly skilled and compassionate facilitator. Amazing program!!!” - Brian, Director of Business Development & Employment Services at Exodus
  • Thank you to the Defy community for helping us reach our year-end Why-athon goal! 🙏 Your donations will allow us to support more Entrepreneurs in Training in 2021. If you know our work, you know that Defy exists to shift mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance—and often a legitimate first chance. This not only means providing resources and training to people with criminal histories but also changing the hearts and minds of society about a system that, by design, increases the odds of incarceration and the time imprisoned for people of color. If we don’t confront racism, stigma, and the systemic odds stacked against people of color and with criminal histories, we will not have a society that gives fair chances for all. Instead, we will broaden the divides that already exist. Join us in 2021 and together let's work toward making this country a place that provides justice and opportunity for all. #defytheodds
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    Thank you to the Defy community for helping us reach our year-end Why-athon goal! 🙏 Your donations will allow us to support more Entrepreneurs in Training in 2021. If you know our work, you know that Defy exists to shift mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance—and often a legitimate first chance. This not only means providing resources and training to people with criminal histories but also changing the hearts and minds of society about a system that, by design, increases the odds of incarceration and the time imprisoned for people of color. If we don’t confront racism, stigma, and the systemic odds stacked against people of color and with criminal histories, we will not have a society that gives fair chances for all. Instead, we will broaden the divides that already exist. Join us in 2021 and together let's work toward making this country a place that provides justice and opportunity for all. #defytheodds
  • Link in bio to support Defy’s work in 2021 ⭐️ #defytheodds
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    Link in bio to support Defy’s work in 2021 ⭐️ #defytheodds