Mistakes aren’t an uncommon practice; everyone makes mistakes in their lives ever so often. However, if these mistakes escalate to serious offenses, they are considered crimes, which leads to serving a sentence in prison. Despite that, some who serve these sentences commit crimes yet again, an act of recidivism.
“Recidivism rates in the U.S. are some of the highest in the world with almost 44% of criminals released returning to prison within their first year out” (Wisevoter, 2023).
Even so, there are efforts to break the cycle and to aid these people in evolving into better versions of themselves:
Leo Novsky, an entrepreneurship and business professor at SCC shares this belief. It has become his lifelong vision to “unlock untapped human potential.”
To briefly introduce Novsky, he is part of a non-profit organization called Defy Ventures and is the executive director for its Washington chapter. Their main focus is to “defy the odds”; they aid people in custody to find themselves to reignite their spirit and get a headstart in their new life after completing their sentence.
Through the organization, Novsky implements educational programs for incarcerated individuals that mirror those in schools. He offers an interactive experience with a small group of prisoners and educates them with important skills essential to their rehabilitation
One program he teaches is called “CEO of Your New Life” which focuses on employment skills, entrepreneurship, and personal empowerment.
“It allows them to transform themselves in a way they often didn’t think possible or they thought no one wanted,” said Novsky.
He has been teaching at the Monroe Correctional Complex every Wednesday night for the last 10 months which is approximately 30 minutes from Seattle.
He mentions how incarcerated people lose hope and often stop believing in themselves. As such, with his teaching, he sets his sights on rekindling their spirits, encouraging them to keep on living, and “get all kinds of opportunities.”
“If you are to do it, you must believe in yourself,” Novsky said.
He also shares that the prison environment is the perfect place for him to spread his message. In those conditions, he is able to refine and bring his words more effectively compared to when he teaches in classes.
“Even though I myself have never been incarcerated, I find that the people who are stuck behind the prison walls very often either not because of their fault or exacerbated by a poor system,” Novsky said, “those who are ready to transform themselves are in need of the right support system–which is not available–and so I find that I do the most good there over anywhere else.”
To learn more about Defy Ventures’ Washington chapter:
