After a successful inaugural year, New Profit and John Legend’s FREEAMERICA are excited to open the application process for the second cohort of Unlocked Futures. This program is designed to unleash the expertise and insights of social entrepreneurs who have been impacted by the criminal justice system and features the following components:

• $50K unrestricted grant;
• Tailored capacity building support and tools to meet real-time needs;
• Leadership and executive coaching;
• Customized communications materials including high-quality video that tells the social entrepreneurs’ leadership and organization story (participants should be willing to share their story on camera);
• Connections to potential donors and issue-based partners; and
• Well-curated and supportive peer network of fellow entrepreneurs.

Unlocked Futures aims to open the opportunity equation and remove barriers to entrepreneurship for people whose experience with the criminal justice system provides them with unmatched expertise and insight into how the system can be improved for better outcomes. You can read more about the launch of Unlocked Futures in this Fast Company piece.

Over the past year we have worked closely with the eight groundbreaking individuals that make up the inaugural Unlocked Futures cohort including, Amanda Alexander, Founder, Detroit Justice Center; Will Avila, Owner, Clean Decisions; Marcus Bullock, CEO, Flikshop; Jason Cleaveland, Founder & CEO, Obodo; Teresa Hodge, Co-Founder & Director of Strategy & Innovation, Mission: Launch; James Monteiro, Founder & Director, Re-Entry Campus Program; Topeka K. Sam, Founder, Ladies of Hope Ministries; and Dirk Van Velzen, Executive Director, Prison Scholars Fund.

Do you know a social enterprise leader who has been directly impacted by the criminal justice system who is working to open up opportunity for others impacted by the system? We are seeking to support entrepreneurs who are leading for-profit or nonprofit organizations beyond concept and seed stages with budgets at a minimum of $150K.

The application closes Wednesday, August 14th at 12:00pm EST. Click here to apply or help us spread the word by forwarding this email to anyone in your network who might be interested in applying!