Entrepreneurship and Returning Citizens

As a Georgetown University alum, I’m very proud to see the first graduating class of the Pivot Program, Georgetown’s new program to help returning citizens learn the ins and outs of entrepreneurship.  The first cohort, who graduated in late June, included 15 participants, are already enjoying early success.  A good share have started profitable businesses, and others are working at full-time jobs.  In addition to accessing entrepreneurship training and other resources, Pivot participants can also access space at the Georgetown Venture Lab, co-located at a WeWork facility near the White House. The program is a partnership with the DC government and Georgetown.  More communities need to embrace these kinds of strategies to better integrate and support residents who are returning from prison—entrepreneurship is a great vehicle to take a job or make a job themselves.  Georgetown and DC are not only in this kind of effort.  You can learn more about similar programs and resources from groups like the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and the George Washington University Law School.