Ep 38 Decriminalizing Poverty (New Beginnings) ft Jason Wang CEO/Founder of FreeWorld

The Human Challenge

In our new segment, New Beginnings, supported by The Being Human Foundation, Vanessa speaks to CEO/Founder of FreeWorld, Jason Wang, a tech non-profit that trains and places people with criminal histories into the trucking industry.

At the age of 15, Jason was incarcerated for a 1st degree felony (Aggravated Robbery) and given a 12-year sentence at a maximum security prison in Texas. Even though he was released early due to prison reform work he did with Texas senators and went on to obtain 2 masters degrees in four years, no one would hire him. When he started his own businesses, he faced similar issues when a lead investor pulled out of his deal last minute because of his criminal history.

In this candid discussion, Jason talks about his upbringing, trauma, and poverty as a contributing factor to mass incarceration of children -- and how all of this led to the launch of FreeWorld.

Now, Jason's life mission is to end mass incarceration by equipping 26 million formerly incarcerated people across the nation with the tools, education, and the jobs they need in order to live positive, productive lives.

Be welcome to learn more about FreeWorld here: https://freeworld.org/

Be welcome to learn more about The Being Human Foundation at vanessaferlaino.com/thebeinghumanfoundation

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

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