Empowering Justice-Impacted Entrepreneurs

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Breaking Barriers to Economic Opportunity

For individuals transitioning from incarceration, finding stable employment can be an uphill battle, with many businesses unwilling to hire justice-impacted individuals. At The Last Mile, it’s a story we hear every day. 

“I knew finding a job after prison was going to be tough, but I didn’t realize how many doors would be shut before I even got to knock,” said Mark Velasquez, a graduate of The Last Mile and participant in the GoDaddy Empower Program. “I applied everywhere—jobs I was qualified for, jobs I was overqualified for—but the moment they saw my background, it was like I wasn’t even a real candidate.” 

Facing rejection after rejection, Mark decided that if opportunities weren’t being offered to him, he would create his own. It’s a path many Returned Citizens consider—entrepreneurship offers a powerful alternative to entering an unwelcoming job market.  It presents a chance to build financial independence on their own terms, but starting a business comes with its own set of challenges—from securing funding to overcoming systemic barriers. 

Programs like The Last Mile (TLM) and Empower by GoDaddy are changing that narrative, equipping justice-impacted entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and support needed to succeed. 

A New Approach For Justice-Impacted Entrepreneurship

Empower by GoDaddy is an initiative designed to make entrepreneurship more inclusive, providing underrepresented and justice-impacted entrepreneurs with the education, mentorship, and networking opportunities they need to build sustainable businesses. 

TLM alumni that attend this course gain direct access to digital tools, including domain registration, website hosting, and business email services for two years, along with training in branding, SEO, and social media marketing. These resources help justice-impacted business owners establish credibility, connect with customers, and navigate the complexities of running an online business. As part of the program, GoDaddy also facilitates workshops, provides mentorship opportunities, and grants access to a network of professionals to guide participants through challenges. 

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” said Ebony Janelle, Manager of Corporate Sustainability and Inclusive Entrepreneurship at GoDaddy. “When we empower these individuals, we’re not just helping them—we’re creating ripple effects that benefit families, communities, and the economy.”

For Mark Velasquez, the opportunity to build something of his own was life-changing. Before joining The Last Mile, Mark was incarcerated in California, struggling to envision a future beyond prison walls.

“When I first came home, I had family support, but I knew I needed something more. I needed a way to sustain myself, and I needed to find a path that would let me build something meaningful.” Mark shared.

After being incarcerated, Mark knew that returning to traditional employment would be an uphill battle. He had the determination to build something of his own, but lacked the financial capital, mentorship, and business knowledge needed to bring his vision to life. 

“I had the drive, I had the idea, but I didn’t have the resources,” he explained. “Starting a business after prison feels impossible without the right support.”

Through the Empower by GoDaddy program, Mark gained technical skills, business mentorship, and a digital platform to launch his entrepreneurial journey. Today, he is transforming his passion into a clothing distribution business, Secure The Bag, that focuses on affordable, high-quality apparel while creating employment opportunities for justice-impacted individuals.

From Mark’s GoDaddy Website: “At Secure The Bag, we draw inspiration from the latest fashion trends, street style, and our customers’ unique style preferences.”

Removing The Roadblocks to Entrepreneurship 

By providing direct access to technical training, mentorship, and funding, Empower By GoDaddy is removing the barriers returned citizens face when starting their own businesses, creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape.

“This program isn’t only about building businesses,” said Janelle. “It is changing lives. When justice-impacted individuals succeed, entire communities benefit.”

For Stephen Perry, another TLM alum and Empower by GoDaddy participant, entrepreneurship is a pathway for maximizing his social impact. While incarcerated, Stephen had a passion for sustainable agriculture and indoor organic farming, but turning that into a reality seemed impossible. Through programs like TLM, Stephen learned coding and business fundamentals, eventually winning a pitch contest for his idea of an indoor, climate-controlled organic farm.

“I remember sitting in that prison classroom, learning how to build a website on paper because we didn’t have internet access. Now, I’m working on a business that could feed entire communities.” Stephen shared.

Through GoDaddy Empower, Stephen received guidance on structuring his business, branding, and securing his online presence. His business concept, Good Ground Gardens, has the mission to develop a sustainable, scalable indoor farm that can grow fresh produce 365 days a year using controlled environments—a venture that could revolutionize local food production across the country. 

From Stephen’s GoDaddy Website: “Our mission is to eliminate world hunger. We seek to accomplish this goal by growing fresh organic produce indoors 365 days a year.”

The Power of Partnership: How GoDaddy and The Last Mile Came Together

GoDaddy’s commitment to making entrepreneurship accessible to all led to the creation of the Empower by GoDaddy program in 2017. When GoDaddy was introduced to TLM as a national leader in justice-focused technology and entrepreneurship training, formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs became a priority focus for the Empower program. 

“We knew we had the expertise to educate returned citizens on building an online presence, but we also wanted to ensure they had the support and connections to thrive,” said Janelle. “That’s why this partnership is so important.”

The course has allowed justice-impacted entrepreneurs like Mark and Stephen to receive dedicated mentorship, funding resources, and networking opportunities, ensuring they are not just launching businesses, but building sustainable enterprises that can scale and grow.

For Mark, this program provided real mentorship from people who believed in him.

“When you leave incarceration, people often still see you for who you were—not who you are. But through GoDaddy Empower and The Last Mile, I found people who actually saw my potential, not just my past,” Mark explained.

This kind of support is critical in reducing recidivism, as employment and economic stability are among the most significant factors in preventing justice-impacted individuals from returning to the system​.

Expanding Access to Capital and Business Growth

Currently, one of the most significant barriers justice-impacted entrepreneurs face is lack of startup capital. Many have limited credit history or financial resources and struggle to secure traditional business loans. Recognizing this gap, GoDaddy is launching a new access-to-capital initiative within the Empower program.

“Many entrepreneurs have the drive and ideas but lack the funding to make them a reality,” said Janelle. “By offering seed money, we’re closing a critical gap.”

Beginning in 2025, program graduates will receive seed funding to launch their business—a significant expansion of the program’s original structure.

This model aligns with the growing social enterprise movement, where businesses are designed not only for profit but also to address systemic challenges such as economic exclusion and reentry barriers. 

Turn2U Productions exemplifies this approach, creating employment and equity ownership opportunities for returning citizens. For participants like Mark Velasquez, who are building enterprises that employ justice impacted individuals, the Empower program has been absolutely essential: 

“For someone like me, coming home and trying to build something from nothing, these tools are life-changing. It’s hard enough to start a business, but when you’ve been incarcerated, you’re starting ten steps behind. This program helped me catch up to everyone else.”

The Larger Movement: Policy and Community Implications

The GoDaddy-TLM partnership is part of a larger movement toward systemic change in how society views economic opportunity for justice-impacted individuals. This movement is focused on strengthening entire communities as well as individual careers. 

“It’s time for society to stop seeing formerly incarcerated individuals as liabilities and start seeing them as entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders,” said Janelle.

The future is bright for these entrepreneurs—and for the communities they will help transform.Through the GoDaddy/TLM partnership, more justice-impacted entrepreneurs can turn their ideas into reality, build generational wealth, and contribute to the economy in meaningful ways. Stephen Perry explained it elegantly: 

“Entrepreneurship is all about independence. When you’ve been incarcerated, you know what it’s like to have every decision made for you. Building my own company means I get to take my future into my own hands.” 

By Robert Roche, Content Marketing Director with The Last Mile.

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