American Idea Foundation

Measuring Results, Expanding Opportunity, Improving Lives.

Press Release

Video: Corner to Corner promoting entrepreneurship & economic opportunities in Nashville, TN

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By: AIF Staff

Janesville, WI – This morning, the American Idea Foundation released a video showcasing the work being done by Corner to Corner, a community-led non-profit organization that promotes entrepreneurship, economic opportunities, and educational activities in Nashville, TN.

The video focuses on one of Corner to Corner’s most impactful programs, The Academy, a 10-week program providing aspiring business-owners with the skills necessary to plan, start, and grow their own companies. The Academy teaches participants the fundamentals of running a business covering topics like digital marketing, book-keeping, and administration, and also bringing in local subject-matter experts to help expand these future business-owners’ bases of knowledge. Since 2016, The Academy has taught over 500 entrepreneurs and these business owners have generated over $13 million for the local  economy.

Watch the video about Corner to Corner & The Academy here.

In October, American Idea Foundation President and former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) visited Corner to Corner to learn more about The Academy, to talk with program participants and graduates about why the approach is impactful, and to discuss how policymakers can help foster entrepreneurship in historically under-capitalized communities. Joining Ryan in the conversation were representatives from the offices of Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Governor Bill Lee (R-TN).

Upon the release of the video and following his visit at Corner to Corner, Ryan said:

“It is impossible to visit Corner to Corner and not be inspired. The Academy is giving these aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to succeed, the skills to get their businesses up and running, and the network to grow over the long-term. The enthusiasm, the passion, and the creativity possessed by graduates of The Academy was truly awesome to see.

“Corner to Corner has created this ecosystem of entrepreneurship that is community-led and growing with each graduating class of The Academy. The energy around Corner to Corner is infectious and it is clearly having a positive economic impact in Nashville. Students come to The Academy with a dream and Will, Shana, the instructors, and the alumni help make those dreams a reality by giving them the knowledge and assistance necessary to launch well-run businesses.

“The early evidence in support of this program is strong and I am hopeful Corner to Corner’s approach continues to be validated through more research because it is changing lives and creating amazing success stories in the process.”

Corner to Corner was one of five front-line organizations to receive a grant from the American Idea Foundation in 2022 and the American Idea Foundation will continue to provide advice, guidance, and support as Corner to Corner develops their evidence-based approach to expanding entrepreneurship. To learn more about the organization, please visit: https://cornertocorner.org/.

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Release: Video: The transformative impact of Gatekeepers in reducing recidivism in MD

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by: AIF Staff

Janesville, WI – This week, the American Idea Foundation released a video highlighting the amazing work being done by Gatekeepers, a non-profit in Hagerstown, MD.

Led by ex-offenders Bill Gaertner and Keith Roys, Gatekeepers is helping inmates and ex-offenders re-enter and rejoin their communities following interactions with the criminal justice system.

Watch the video about Gatekeepers’ efforts here.

As the video shows, Gatekeepers works with inmates prior to their release. Their office is often the first stop for inmates upon leaving correctional facilities and their staff continues working with many of these individuals for years after. Gatekeepers helps these people build productive lives one day at a time.

To do this effectively, Gatekeepers created a formal program called The Business of Living, which is now being used in prisons and jails across the country.

The Business of Living program assists current and former inmates chart pathways to success by creating a comprehensive re-entry plan upon their release from incarceration. It has spiritual, vocational, educational, and community-based components that are customized to the individual. If an individual needs medical or rehabilitation services, Gatekeepers helps them map out how to access them. If an individual wants to pursue employment or rebuild ties with their family members, Gatekeepers helps them navigate it. Through the Business of Living program, Gatekeepers walks with these individuals step-by-step and assists them in building productive lives.

In early October, American Idea Foundation President Paul Ryan stopped by Gatekeepers for a roundtable discussion with graduates of the Business of Living program, community partners, Congressman David Trone (D-MD), and state and local officials, all of whom believe in the power of Gatekeepers’ hands-on approach. Reporting on the visit, the Herald Mail of Hagerstown noted: 

Through his foundation, Paul Ryan scours the nation, looking for effective programs that help people escape poverty. He thinks he’s found one in Hagerstown.

Ryan met with people in the Gatekeepers program during a forum and a luncheon Monday at the Horizon Goodwill facility on North Prospect Street. He was joined by U.S. Rep. David Trone, a Democrat who is running for reelection for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District; Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill, several representatives of city and county government, local business leaders and people who have returned to the community after spending time behind bars….

Gatekeepers is something of a clearing house for people who have spent time behind bars. It focuses on re-entry and reducing rates of reoffending and recidivism.

Among other things, Gatekeepers has developed what Gaertner has dubbed the “Business of Living” program. It’s a process designed to help formerly incarcerated people get on their feet and pursue their goals.  That program is taught inside Roxbury Correctional Institution and the Maryland Correctional Training Center south of Hagerstown as well as the Washington County Detention Center and the county Day Reporting Center.

Gatekeepers is currently working with Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities to conduct a long-term study measuring the effectiveness of their approach in reducing recidivism. They are among a half-dozen front-line organizations to receive a grant from the American Idea Foundation in 2022 and the American Idea Foundation will continue to provide advice, guidance, and support as Gatekeepers develops their evidence-based approach to reducing recidivism.

To learn more about the organization, please visit: https://www.gatekeepersmd.org/.

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Ryan visits Gatekeepers in Hagerstown, Maryland to learn about recidivism reduction efforts

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October 12, 2022

Hagerstown, Maryland – Earlier this week, American Idea Foundation President and former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan visited Gatekeepers, a non-profit organization in Hagerstown, Maryland focused on motivating, empowering, and encouraging ex-offenders to successfully reintegrate into their communities and build fulfilling lives following their interactions with the criminal justice system.

In a roundtable with individuals who have completed Gatekeepers’ Business of Living program and with community supporters of the organization, Ryan extolled the positive impact that Gatekeepers is having on ex-offenders seeking to turn their lives around. Ryan was joined by Congressman David Trone (D-MD), representatives from the office of Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a host of local elected leaders, and Maryland employers, all of whom understand how Gatekeepers’ evidence-based approach to reducing recidivism is making a tangible difference in the lives of others.

To watch a brief recap of the visit from DC News Now, click here.

After spending the day with the staff of Gatekeepers and program participants, Ryan said:

“There are 3 prisons and 1 jail around Hagerstown, Maryland so Gatekeepers is filling a real need in this community by helping people turn their lives around. They are helping people better themselves and helping to reduce recidivism. Their work matters. 

“With Bill Gaertner’s leadership, Gatekeepers’ Business of Living program is showing individuals how to reintegrate back into society by focusing on spirituality, education, personal growth, and employment. Gatekeepers walks with these people every step of the way and the early evidence shows that their approach is working.

“It was amazing to hear the stories of transformation and of redemption. We’re excited to be working with Gatekeepers and Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities to help validate and prove the Business of Living concept. Our goal has always been to identify programs with a track record of success, use data and evidence to support and validate their efforts, and then hopefully scale these successful interventions.

“Today’s event showed that Gatekeepers has the support of the community. We heard from employers, from faith leaders, and from local and federal officials who believe in Gatekeepers’ mission. Gatekeepers is doing the hard but necessary work to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. They are keeping people on the right path and I am so grateful that the American Idea Foundation has been able to partner with them in this journey.”

Gatekeepers was one of a handful of organizations to receive a grant from the American Idea Foundation in 2022 and as part of their partnership with the American Idea Foundation, Ryan will continue to work with Gatekeepers to scale their program and deepen their impact through the use of evidence and data.

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