In this episode, Arti Finn sits down with her mentor Rick Segal, an author and pioneer in the world of impact investing. Rick shares insightful lessons from a career of backing entrepreneurs, lessons that matter not only in business, but also for anyone fighting to rebuild their life.

For those who dream of launching a business, big or small, Rick says persistence and focus are the most important elements. “Rejection is real,” he says. “It comes often, way more often than you’d like. You have to believe in yourself and you have to believe in your vision. You may have to give the same speech 18 times before you resonate with someone. But you have to do that, and you will find someone.”

Rick’s belief in Orijin comes from that same conviction. He sees how justice‑impacted learners have been failed by the system and how Orijin offers a true restart. “Most of you, the system failed. Give it another chance, because this is the way you can get back on track, learn what you need to learn, and be successful.”

Rick is also the author of The Heart of It: The Ten Pillars of Mindful Impact Investing — where he shows how values, purpose, and persistence guide success. Whether you’re pitching investors or trying to open a small business after release, the same rules apply: no shortcuts, no compromises, and always stay true to your purpose. His advice to Orijin learners is clear — lead with passion, believe in your potential, and use every tool available to help yourself, your family, and your future.

Tune in to this inspiring conversation on the 2nd Chances@Work podcast and hear Rick’s full story.

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In this powerful episode of Second Chances@Work, host Arti Finn sits down with Keidrain Brewster, a formerly incarcerated entrepreneur, author, and founder of the Big Reform Movement. After serving 13 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—beginning at just 17 years old—Keidrain has transformed his life and is now the CEO of Brewster Logistics, a growing trucking company employing more than 15 people.

Keidrain shares how the loss of his younger brother and mother during his incarceration served as turning points, inspiring him to take full advantage of education and personal development opportunities behind bars. From earning his GED to completing every course available, he made the decision to invest in himself. That mindset shift—combined with relentless hard work—set the foundation for his success on the outside.

Today, Keidrain is a passionate advocate for second chances, mentoring justice-impacted individuals through his Big Reform Movement and speaking at reentry events across the country. He encourages incarcerated individuals to start their transformation while still inside and reminds correctional leaders of the power of lived experience in reentry programming.

Keidrain also shares why trucking is such a promising career path for people coming home from prison: it offers strong pay, doesn't penalize individuals for their record or appearance, and provides a tangible sense of freedom and purpose. With the launch of Orijin’s expanded Commercial Driver's License (CDL) prep course, more justice-impacted learners will be able to follow that same road to opportunity.

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At Alameda County’s Juvenile Justice Center, a dramatic transformation is underway. Once operating near its 300-bed capacity, the facility now serves between 42 and 60 youth—a shift driven by intentional reforms, collaborative leadership, and a strategic embrace of technology.

This episode of Second Chances at Work dives into how Alameda County partnered with Orijin to integrate a digital learning platform that does far more than deliver education. Orijin is now embedded into behavior management, skill-building, and reentry planning—helping young people earn privileges through positive choices and access high-quality educational content, soft skills modules, and workforce training.

Superintendents Albert Bañuelos and John Ebrahimi share how Orijin’s Incentive Engine motivates youth to stay engaged, meet goals, and demonstrate accountability. From GED prep to entertainment, access is earned through pro-social behavior. The result? Improved facility safety, calmer living units, and a stronger culture of growth.

The conversation also highlights the power of voice calls through tablets, which have replaced conflict-prone shared phones. With over 648,000 minutes logged, these calls provide vital emotional connections that reduce tension and encourage reentry readiness.

Reentry Services Coordinator Rakeya Cherry-Hill discusses how technology supports individualized case plans and cognitive behavioral interventions—helping youth stay on track from day one through release. She also shares a promising initiative to grant school credit for tablet-based programming.

Whether you’re a correctional leader, educator, or policymaker, this episode offers valuable insight into how Alameda County is redefining rehabilitation—and why they believe in sharing their success with others.

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