Determination, Incorporated

04/30/2024

You can support a second chance entrepreneur with an investment that gets repaid. Stephanie is a long time member of our community, an amazing woman, and an outstanding business owner.

Kiva is a loan, not a donation. With Kiva you can lend as little as $25 and make a big change in someone's life.

10/27/2023

Vote in the comments! We're self-publishing a book and want to know which cover design you like the most: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5? Please share other thoughts, too. Thank you!

10/11/2023

Leslie Walton is the Entrepreneur Success Manager at Determination, Incorporated & the Founder of A Cents of Change where she empowers women to build a better relationship with their money. Leslie is a lifelong entrepreneur who loves helping other people reach their own definition of success. From her wide ranging life experiences, including getting her MBA & starting a catering business with food stamps, Leslie has identified the patterns of successful entrepreneurs that will help you no matter your starting point.

Today on the show you will learn how to make goal setting practical and enjoyable, why self discipline means freedom and not punishment, how to change your relationship with money from reactive to proactive, and whether or not you should talk about your criminal history at networking events.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, even on tablets in Missouri prisons: https://prisonoreship.libsyn.com/patterns-of-successful-entrepreneurs-with-leslie-walton

10/10/2023

Stephanie Blaco with Mixing Bowl on the Go is now offering full service catering across the KC region. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or finger foods, visit her website to see all of the delicious foods she has to offer for your next event: www.mixingbowlkc.com

10/04/2023

Ricky Kidd spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He lost his appeal 11 times before finally winning and regaining his freedom. During that time, he focused on getting “better, not bitter,” and learned how to not just survive, but to thrive in terrible circumstances. Today on the show, Ricky shares how he turned his resilient spirit into the five keys of resiliency that anyone can use to make it through difficult times: get anchored, get moving, find your energy, access perspective, and live selflessly. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, including on tablets in Missouri prisons, or at this link: https://prisonoreship.libsyn.com/building-resilience-through-adversity-with-ricky-kid spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He lost his appeal 11 times before finally winning and regaining his freedom. During that time, he focused on getting “better, not bitter,” and learned how to not just survive, but to thrive in terrible circumstances. Today on the show, Ricky shares how he turned his resilient spirit into the five keys of resiliency that anyone can use to make it through difficult times: get anchored, get moving, find your energy, access perspective, and live selflessly. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, including on tablets in Missouri prisons, or at this link: https://prisonoreship.libsyn.com/building-resilience-through-adversity-with-ricky-kidd

09/29/2023

Join us in advocating for incarcerated readers in Missouri: On Friday, August 25th, the Missouri Department of Corrections announced in their email newsletter that family and friends can no longer purchase books to be sent to people currently incarcerated in Missouri DOC facilities.

Instead, people incarcerated in Missouri prisons will only be able to receive books (a very limited selection consisting mainly of fiction novels) that they pay for and order themselves from vendors approved by the prison. The department cites drugs and contraband as the reason for this policy change, but the previous policy required that friends and family pay for a book to be sent directly from an approved vendor for that same reason.

Over the past year at Determination, Incorporated we have sent in business basics and entrepreneurship books through Amazon to incarcerated people to educate them on topics they care about as they plan for their successful reentry. Because of this ban, we will no longer be able to continue this uplifting and encouraging initiative.

Please consider joining us in emailing the Department of Corrections at the link below and sharing why you believe it is important that incarcerated people have access to books and supportive organizations like ours. Thank you!

On Friday, August 25th, the Missouri Department of Corrections announced in their email newsletter that family and friends can no longer purchase books or subscriptions to approved publications to be sent to people currently incarcerated in Missouri DOC facilities. Instead, people incarcerated in Mi...

09/29/2023

Our Be the Boss business support group is for formerly incarcerated people who are interested in starting a business or already have one and are looking for business education, encouragement, accountability, and a community that believes in their ability to succeed.

We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month in the evening on Zoom. Register now at this link: https://determinationincorporated.com/

Thank you to Johnny Jones with Thug Nerdy Productions for making this terrific hype video!

09/28/2023

When Diamond Fuse got a felony at age 19, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to make anything of her life. That is, until she learned how to take charge of her own destiny through the power of vision boards, positive affirmations, and manifestation. When she made her first vision board in 2012, she didn’t have enough money to fill up her gas tank. By 2016, Diamond owned her own home, had a college degree, and completed everything on her vision board.

Tune into "Own It: Starting a Business After Prison" wherever you get your podcasts to learn how to cultivate abundance in your own life by achieving goals through action planning and nurturing a positive mindset. Follow the link to listen now: https://prisonoreship.libsyn.com/creating-a-vision-and-a-plan-for-your-life-with-diamond-fuse

09/27/2023

Last week we had the pleasure of presenting to the gentlemen of the NAACP at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking, MO. We shared about starting a business after prison and stories of second chance entrepreneurs in our community. They were kind enough to make a generous donation to our organization. Truly a wonderful and encouraging group!

09/26/2023

We're back with new episodes of our podcast, Own It: Starting a Business After Prison. The show is available wherever you listen to podcasts, even in Missouri prisons where currently incarcerated people can listen to it on tablets and plan for their successful reentry.

First up, second chance entrepreneur and Determination, Incorporated Board Member: Sarah Muntean. When Sarah started her first business All American Construction Contractors in 2013, she had recently been released from prison, she was homeless, and not many people in her life believed she could succeed. Through pure grit, and by staying humble and learning on her feet, Sarah grew her business year over year to hundreds of thousands in revenue and was able to hire many people in transition and recovery.

Tune in now wherever you listen to podcasts or at this link: https://prisonoreship.libsyn.com/starting-a-business-after-prison-with-sarah-muntean

09/19/2023

We started our organization over 5 years ago with a vision: that formerly incarcerated people, by starting viable, hiring businesses, will help to solve the problem of recidivism, create financial freedom, and build intergenerational wealth. We’re making some changes here at Determination, Incorporated with the goal of making the organization viable for the long term. Watch the video to learn more.