Imagine spending a full day, as a volunteer, sitting right next to, or across from, a justice impacted person, except you’re behind the wall with them! You’re shaking their hand, sharing ideas, their ideas to transform their lives, maybe start a business when they get released, and at the end of the day, watching them put on a cap and gown, maybe the first they ever had, and walk across a stage to accept a graduation certificate for participating in a program that brings leadership, empowerment, self-care, healing, and entrepreneurial ideas to paper. Well at Defy Ventures, you don’t have to imagine it. Since its beginnings over a decade ago, Defy Ventures has connected 7,200 volunteers with almost as many justice impacted individuals behind the wall. They’ve also connected many of those same individuals once they are released and have met reentry stability goals, with people and programs to move them forward with their business ideas. None of what Defy Ventures accomplishes is easy, but with Executive Directors, like Melissa O’Dell of Defy Ventures Illinois, even providing opportunities to ONE individual, like Cordelia Spivey, is life changing!