Unlocking Potential, Bridging Communities

Life can be incredibly challenging, and sometimes it feels like the future you’ve dreamed of is slipping away. It's important to remember that these feelings are often a...

Imagine a teenager named Marcus. Growing up in a neighborhood with limited resources, his options were bleak. School felt irrelevant, positive role models were scarce, and the allure of the streets seemed like the only path forward. A wrong turn led him into the criminal justice system, a place where statistics tell a grim story: youth from underserved communities are disproportionately represented.

But what if there was another way?

At Untapped Solutions, we believe there is. We see the potential in every Marcus, the potential that often gets buried under a lack of opportunity.  This is why we're harnessing the power of technology to break the cycle that traps so many young lives.

A Broken System, Unequal Outcomes

The statistics are undeniable.  A report by the Sentencing Project found that Black youth are incarcerated at six times the rate of white youth.  These numbers paint a clear picture: the justice system is not blind, and the burden falls heaviest on those who already have the least.

The root causes are complex, but a lack of resources in underserved communities plays a significant role.  Limited access to quality education, job training, and positive social connections creates a breeding ground for despair and hopelessness.  This is where Marcus' story begins, and it's a story far too common.

Building Digital Bridges to a Brighter Future

But here's the good news: technology can be a powerful equalizer.  At Untapped Solutions, we've developed a platform that leverages AI to connect youth in the justice system with the resources they need to succeed.  Imagine a network of these platforms implemented across underserved communities nationwide. Studies by the Vera Institute of Justice have shown that social support programs can reduce recidivism rates by up to 30%.  Imagine the impact if we could empower thousands of young people with the same level of support through our AI-powered platform:

Provides Real-Time Access to Critical Services: Our AI-powered system connects youth with vital resources like housing assistance, mental health counseling, and job training programs. No more navigating complex bureaucracies – help is just a click away.
Empowers Through Education and Skills Training: Our platform offers educational resources and training programs tailored to individual needs. Whether it's earning a GED, learning a new trade, or developing digital literacy skills, we equip young people with the tools to build a brighter future.
Forges Supportive Communities: Loneliness and isolation are major risk factors for recidivism. Our platform fosters connections with mentors, peers facing similar challenges, and positive role models who can offer guidance and support.

April is Second Chance Month, a time to reflect as a nation and raise awareness on the importance of second chance opportunities for people returning to their communities from incarceration. As a business owner, a New Yorker, and someone who has been incarcerated, I am a living testament to the value of meaningful second chances. The mistakes I made as a young person did not define me, because there were opportunities for me to succeed and contribute to my community. 

Since my own release, I’ve become a proud community member of NYC
 and the owner of a thriving business that’s all about second chances. At Untapped Solutions, we connect justice-impacted individuals and other folks from marginalized communities to employers and job opportunities, harnessing the potential of traditionally untapped talents to create more diverse, dynamic, and stronger workplaces. Connecting people to quality jobs drives economic growth, reduces recidivism, and promotes social equity by providing meaningful employment opportunities to talented individuals who want to work and take care of their families. 

And I see the opportunity for so many more businesses and our communities overall to benefit from the contributions of formerly incarcerated people if we can pass commonsense sentencing reform this year. New York has not passed meaningful sentencing reform in more than 15 years. Long prison sentences keep people away from their families and locked out of the workforce, without improving public safety. While other states – including Oklahoma and Texas – have passed laws expanding opportunities to reconsider or earn time off sentences, New York has fallen behind. At the same time, many businesses are struggling to hire qualified candidates amidst a persisting workforce shortage. 

New York’s elected leaders have the opportunity to address both of these problems by passing a package of sentencing reforms, including the Earned Time Act (S774/A1128) and the Second Look Act (S321/A531), and the Marvin Mayfield Act  (SS6471A/A2036B). Advancing these policies will help us strengthen our state’s workforce without compromising public safety. 
 
The Earned Time Act would allow people to earn more time off their sentences for participation in educational and vocational programs that provide them with skills to be ready to rejoin the workforce upon release. The Second Look Act would allow judges to review extremely long sentences to see if a person’s demonstrated rehabilitation means they should be given a reduced sentence, recognizing that people should be given a second chance and that long sentences don’t make us safer. 

Every day, I see how supporting justice-impacted people is better for our community as a whole. Employers who utilize Untapped Solutions often tell us how impressed they are with the commitment and work ethic of the employees they find through our platform. Given the right tools and opportunities, formerly incarcerated individuals want to and can thrive in the workforce. 
Unfortunately, the longer someone stays behind bars, the more they can fall behind modern technology and the job market. Every year locked away makes it exponentially more difficult to reintegrate into the workforce. With these sentencing reforms that can reduce recidivism and increase job skills, we can make impactful change.

Passing sentencing reform will bring valuable community members back to the workforce and continue to prioritize public safety. Business leaders across the state see the value of second chances. Now, it’s up to New York lawmakers to pass these data-backed sentencing reforms to provide meaningful second chances, strengthen our workforce, and make our communities safer. 

Andre Peart is the CEO and Founder of Untapped Solutions, a technology company that empowers employers to connect with and hire talent from underserved communities