Second Chance Studios

Second Chance Studios is a nonprofit digital media company that trains and employs formerly incarcerated individuals.

Problem

On any given year, 8,500 New Yorkers are released from prison — joining an estimated 96,000 on probation and 43,000 on parole. 53% of those released are rearrested within three years. Countless studies have shown that these formerly incarcerated individuals receive little to no training and guidance to enter the workforce — on top of the fact that their prior records (and gaps in employment) often serve as insurmountable barriers to joining the workforce. There are over 670 regulations in place in New York State that restrict formerly incarcerated from receiving occupational licenses. Those lucky enough to find employment work almost entirely in manual labor jobs. Job opportunities involving skilled work are practically nonexistent.

Opportunity

The new media space (consisting of audio, video, social media and podcasting) is undergoing explosive growth. Employment opportunities in these industries are forecasted to grow 2x - 3x the average of all occupations in the U.S. And venture capital firms are brokering roughly 3x more deals with podcasting companies today vs. 10 years ago.