Fresh Start Banking
Fresh Start Banking
Mentorship Program
powered by Element Federal Credit Union
Fresh Start
Entrepreneurship
Turning Business Ideas Into Reality
About the Program
The Fresh Start Entrepreneurship & Financial Capabilities Program for Returning Citizens is a collaboration among several entities with a shared goal of promoting economic empowerment for justice-involved individuals. First Step Alliance developed this initiative in partnership with Reentry Survivors, an organization that has provided entrepreneurship training and employment assistance to returning citizens for more than ten years. Collaborating organizations include Harvard Law School's Transactional Law Clinics, the Boston Mayor's Office of Returning Citizens, and other reentry service providers. SCORE, the nation's largest volunteer small business mentorship organization, also provides mentoring assistance.
Past Program Graduates
Program Goals
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The Fresh Start Entrepreneurship & Financial Capabilities Program aims to provide returning citizen entrepreneurs with the education, mentoring, and legal assistance they need to successfully start and run their own business. This Program builds on the proven 10-year track record of Reentry Survivors' highly regarded entrepreneurship program, designed by and for justice-involved individuals.
The Program's curriculum combines entrepreneurship and money management training with life skills coaching from peer mentors with lived experience. To help remove barriers to mainstream banking and build credit, participants have access to an affordable bank account and free credit counseling services. Program graduates may also be eligible for a "kick start" micro-grant to help them with initial funding needs.
Business ownership represents an alternative path to income and wealth creation opportunities for justice-involved individuals. Fresh Start Entrepreneurship & Financial Capabilities helps people get started on their journey by providing them with essential business and personal finance knowledge along with access to affordable banking and credit building resources.
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