A KRE8ivU Re-Entry Initiative
From Confinement to Creation:
Building Futures One Frame, One Beat at a Time
We believe that every person carries within themselves the seed of something extraordinary.
For too long, the brilliant storytellers, filmmakers, and creative minds walking out of North Carolina's facilities have been shut out of the modern creative economy—not due to a lack of talent, but because of systemic barriers, credential gaps, and an industry that has rarely told them they belong.
The A.R.I.S.E. (Arts Related Innovative Student Empowerment) Re-Entry Institute is changing that narrative. We do not view our community as people who need to be "fixed". Instead, we co-create a powerful space of creative entrepreneurship, launching sustainable, graduate-owned multimedia businesses from day one.
We don't train people to wait for employment opportunities; we equip our returning citizens with the professional assets, legal infrastructure, and elite creative skillsets to own their futures.
Our Foundation
True Economic Sovereignty Through Ownership
Traditional workforce programs often focus on training individuals for entry-level employment, leaving them dependent, under-compensated, and vulnerable to systemic discrimination.
We flip the script entirely. Our focus is on absolute ownership.
Creative industries are portfolio-driven. Clients, agencies, and collaborators judge you by the caliber of your work and the professionalism of your portfolio, not by your past. By establishing our own Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), we build psychological armor that bypasses gatekeepers, allowing our returning citizens to sign professional client contracts and protect their creative intellectual property as sovereign business owners.
Bypassing the Stigma
An LLC allows our creative entrepreneurs to secure contracts under an established business entity, mitigating personal background-check barriers.
Scalable Asset Development
Our graduates retain absolute rights, royalties, and ownership over their creative works, converting live hours into generational assets.
Dignity and Expression
We treat our team not as passive students, but as skilled apprentices co-authoring the next great visual and sonic narratives of our community.
Why This Matters
North Carolina's returning citizens are part of our workforce, our families, and our future.
People released annually from North Carolina adult correctional facilities
Approximate North Carolina daily cost to incarcerate one person
Of people released in the FY 2021 state study had a recidivist arrest within two years
Had a recidivist incarceration within two years in that same state study
A.R.I.S.E.'s yearly investment per student is about one quarter of one year in state prison.
Our regular yearly investment per student ($12,443 to $13,043) represents roughly one-quarter of the annual cost of incarceration (~$48,910). We believe in investing in people, not confinement.
What A.R.I.S.E. will measure: paid class completion, portfolio completion, credential and LLC completion where applicable, work and income obtained, alumni engagement, equipment-library responsibility, housing and referral connections, and participant-defined progress. We will not claim we reduce recidivism until outcomes are tracked over time against a clear evaluation plan.
Sources: North Carolina Executive Order No. 303 (January 2024) for annual releases and approximate daily incarceration cost; NC Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission FY 2021 two-year follow-up for recidivism measures.
The 18-Week Paid Intensive
The First Step is Paid: Training That Works With Reentry, Not Against It
We understand that returning home presents immediate, complex financial challenges. No one should have to choose between immediate survival and building a lifelong career.
That is why our class operates like a professional production job. We respect our participants' time and provide robust financial support to eliminate stress and ensure absolute focus on craft.
Student Wage
Every participant earns a documented hourly wage for all live class time.
Per Week
We meet for 3 hours a day, 3 days a week over 18 intensive weeks.
Live Learning Hours
A comprehensive, hands-on, and rigorous workspace designed to transition talent into industry-grade mastery.
Total Class Earnings
Legitimate, documented income earned while mastering professional creative pipelines.
The Integrated Journey
Designed Around the Realities of Reentry
Our pathway is continuous, community-supported, and structured to prevent setbacks.
Pre-Release Outreach
6 to 8 weeks before release
We partner with "Fathers on the Move" to introduce our creative pathway inside facilities. This gives our future residents ample time to understand the opportunity, ask questions, and design a concrete transition plan before they return home.
The Paid Intensive
Within 48 hours of release
Returning citizens report to our Raleigh classroom space within 48 hours of release to officially launch their paid production coursework.
Graduation & Business Launch
At program completion
Each graduate finishes with a professional-grade portfolio, legal business-formation support, and immediate entry into our Alumni Collective.
12 Months of Alumni Support
Post-graduation growth
We stand alongside our graduates for a full year, offering ongoing peer mentorship, technical office hours, gear check-outs, and a direct pipeline to paid client jobs.
The Integrated Curriculum
One Integrated Class: A Full Production Foundation
We do not isolate our storytellers into narrow silos. Modern digital media requires collaborative, versatile, and multi-faceted production professionals. Our single, integrated cohort of 10 creative partners blends cinematography, filmmaking, and production sound to establish an unshakeable, set-ready creative foundation.
01 — VISUAL PRODUCTION
Camera, Lighting, and Story
Language of the Lens: Mastering camera operations, exposure control, lens selection, and advanced lighting designs.
On-Set Leadership: Planning and executing multi-camera shoots, structuring shot lists, managing call sheets, and navigating location workflows.
02 — SOUND & POST
Production Sound to Final Mix
Sonic Excellence: Location audio recording, boom microphone operations, and dialogue editing.
The Final Polish: Advanced ADR, sound design, sonic branding, professional color-grading, and editing in industry-standard software.
03 — PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
From Project to Client
The Business of Media: Managing client communications, drafting commercial contracts, estimating production costs, processing digital invoices, and developing a distinctive brand identity.
A Showcase of Readiness: Completing a final collaborative production and high-value sizzle reel that stands as an undeniable portfolio to show prospective clients.
Assets Included With the Class
Removing Barriers: Practical Assets for Immediate Success
We don't believe in checking boxes; we believe in providing real tools that eliminate early-stage barriers, enabling our graduates to run successful businesses from day one.
North Carolina LLC Support
We navigate and fund the initial state filing fees ($125) for eligible participants, launching their officially registered corporate entities under North Carolina General Statutes.
Commercial Drone Preparation (FAA Part 107)
Aerial cinematography is a standard modern requirement, not a luxury. We provide complete Remote Pilot flight instruction and budget for the initial FAA knowledge-test attempt to secure a commercial drone license.
The ARI Workbook
Every student receives a printed 500-page career manual containing production checklists, legal templates, marketing scripts, and business tools to serve as a lifetime career reference system.
The Professional Equipment Library
Real Equipment. Clear Rules. A Path to Collective Wealth.
High-end production cameras, lighting grids, and editing workstations are cost-prohibitive, forming a massive hurdle for emerging creators.
Our solution is a sustainable, shared model: We do not distribute one-time equipment packages. We maintain an elite, shared Professional Equipment Library.
Training Use is Included
Access to all necessary gear is completely integrated into our classroom time.
The Checkout Principle
During the 12-month Alumni Collective, approved graduates can check out high-end gear (cinema cameras, lighting rigs, professional sound kits, and editing laptops) free of charge for approved, paid client contracts.
Dignity in Quality
We select professional, Netflix-ready gear. Providing industry-grade equipment ensures our graduates' work stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any major media agency, honoring their talent and dignity.
Alumni Access
After 12 months, independent graduates can continue to rent advanced gear at deeply discounted, below-market alumni rates.
Our Wraparound Support Shield
Community First: A Three-Layer Support System
Reentry is a shared, human journey. We wrap our creative entrepreneurs in a supportive, trauma-informed framework that addresses both the technical and the human realities of transition.
Certified Peer Support (Fathers on the Move)
Present at every session, our peer mentors have firsthand lived experience with incarceration and reentry. They utilize relationship-based mentorship to provide accountability, crisis recognition, and navigational support.
Licensed Clinical Support
Professional mental health counselors are integrated into our workspace, providing bi-monthly group resilience sessions and rapid-response crisis care. We operate on a policy of support, not surveillance—creating a safe container where our team can be completely honest about their challenges without fear of legal consequences.
Industry Mentors
Working professionals from the film and audio sectors provide bi-weekly technical reviews, portfolio feedback, and warm introductions to local commercial networks.
The Geography of Impact
Centered Where Our Creative Partners Return Home
Classroom accessibility is vital. We align our spaces with the regional hubs where our returning citizens live.
Raleigh Classroom (Hayes Barton)
Our physical instructional home is located at Hayes Barton in Raleigh, placing us squarely in the capital region and directly supporting residents returning to the Wake Correctional region.
Strategic Expansion Mapping
We are actively planning regional cohorts to accommodate reentry clusters returning to Durham, Orange County, and surrounding counties.
Our Operational Investment
An Honest, Budget-Tested Foundation for Sustained Impact
We do not believe in running programs on hoped-for money or building fragile initiatives that dissolve when funding cycles shift. We are transparent, outcome-focused, and deliberate with every dollar.
Below is our Internal Planning Budget for the 18-week model (operating two full cohorts annually, serving 20 creative partners). This budget is structured to fund the program fully from the first day of class through the entire 12-month Alumni Collective support window.
Two complete 18-week cohorts, 20 students annually
Shared Professional Equipment Library, incl. 10% procurement contingency
Comprehensive launch budget prior to still-unpriced quotes
Program & Support Operational Budget
The annual operational cost to run two complete 18-week cohorts (10 students per cohort, 20 students annually) is $260,850. This covers student compensation, technical instruction, legal and financial professional integration, and certified peer-led support.
| Operational Planning Line | Detail & Scale | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|
| Student Wages & Income | 20 students × 162 live class hours × $20/hour | $64,800 |
| FOTM Certified Peer Support | Certified Peer Mentor service (20 hrs/week × 52 weeks × $45) | $46,800 |
| Program/Operations Coordinator | Operational logistics, scheduling, and partner liaison placeholder | $50,000 |
| Clinical Wraparound & Consultation | Licensed clinical escalation, crisis consultation, counseling referrals | $27,500 |
| Equipment Library Coordinator | Inventory management, logistics, and maintenance (10 hrs/week) | $16,250 |
| Cinematography/Filmmaking Instructor | Set-ready classroom instruction ($25/hour) | $12,150 |
| FOTM Pre-Release Outreach | Facilities outreach, enrollment, and transitional planning MOU | $8,000 |
| Attorney & Legal Professional Reserve | Legal workshops, IP templates, corporate compliance, office hours | $8,000 |
| Drone Certification Instruction | FAA Part 107 flight preparation and exam training ($3,000 per class) | $6,000 |
| Audio/Post-Production Instructor | Audio workspace, sound design, and dialogue cleanup instruction ($25/hour) | $4,050 |
| Instructor Alumni Office Hours | Scheduled professional design and technical advisory hours for graduates | $4,000 |
| CPA & Financial Literacy Reserve | Accounting workshops, business checking setup, self-employment tax prep | $4,000 |
| FAA Part 107 Examination Fees | Direct federal commercial flight exam fees ($175 × 20) | $3,500 |
| State LLC Business Formation Fees | Direct filing with NC Secretary of State ($125 × 20) | $2,500 |
| Workbook Content Writing & Design | One-time planning placeholder for curriculum authorship | $2,500 |
| Printed Student Workbooks | Take-home printed 500-page career guides ($40 × 20) | $800 |
| Program Operational Subtotal | Annual operational cost, pre-equipment capital | $260,850 |
Operational Open Items
We refuse to launch on assumptions. To maintain complete transparency, we are actively securing formal partner, vendor, and facility quotes for the following open variables:
Physical Facility Operations: classroom leases, utility hookups, high-speed fiber internet, accessibility compliance, and local building modifications at Hayes Barton or Durham.
Vendor Warranties & Software Licensing: extended hardware warranty terms, classroom lab licenses (DaVinci Resolve Studio, Logic Pro, Adobe Creative Cloud), and educational non-profit pricing.
Direct Field Support: partner transportation vouchers, session meal logistics, backup mentor capacity, and participant crisis emergency funds.
Long-Term Gear Maintenance Reserve: obsolescence replacement buffers, shipping, specialized lens calibration, and accidental damage repairs.
Budget Narrative: Investing in Sovereignty
The structure of our budget is a direct reflection of our core philosophy. Every dollar spent is an intentional, equity-focused alternative to the massive financial waste of the incarceration cycle.
Direct Compensation over Handouts
A full 25% of our annual operational budget ($64,800) goes directly into the hands of our creative partners as legitimate, documented wages. This ensures they can honor supervision requirements, support family responsibilities, and buy immediate necessities without experiencing a desperate financial cliff that forces a return to survival-based crime.
A Systemic Solution to Systemic Gaps
We allocate $12,000 annually specifically for direct business-formation pathways and professional credentialing. Rather than training our returning citizens to navigate the systemic gatekeepers of employment background checks, we invest in their federal drone licenses and corporate LLCs. This shifts the power dynamic: graduates present their capabilities as corporate business entities and are judged purely on their portfolios.
The Shared Gear Paradigm
Instead of diluting our capital by gifting $3,000 to $5,000 of consumer-grade electronics per student, we invest in a $152,834 Shared Professional Equipment Library. This ensures our creative partners have ongoing, free access to Netflix-certified cinema tools and elite studio gear for their commercial bookings, while keeping the assets protected, managed, and fully active within our circular community economy.
Accountability, Mentorship & Care
Over 30% of our operations are dedicated to human infrastructure. By partnering directly with Fathers on the Move, we fund trained, certified peer mentors who provide daily contact and accountability. We pair this peer-led support with licensed clinical escalation networks and working industry mentors to build an unshakeable ecosystem of mutual trust and stability.
Partner With Us
Co-Creating the Second Act: Partner With Us
This is not a charity pitch. It is a strategic, budget-tested, and highly effective investment in North Carolina's human potential, community stability, and economic justice.
Our regular yearly investment per student ($12,443 to $13,043) represents roughly one-quarter of the annual cost of incarceration (~$48,910). We believe in investing in people, not confinement.
Help us launch our upcoming regional cohorts. A one-time pilot year investment funds student wages, personnel, professional manual production, and the equipment library, establishing a replicable model with statewide potential.
Reach any of us directly using the contacts below. We respond within two business days.
Leadership & Partner Contacts
Max Shafir, MSW, LCSW
Executive Chair, Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health
Executive Chair, JCPC
Executive Director, Keep Counsel