A.R.I.S.E.
Re-Entry Institute
Achieving Resilience & Inspiring Self-Expression
“From incarceration to incorporation — one track, one scene, one decision at a time.”
Founding Leadership Coalition
Built on Proven Partnership
Three visionary leaders — rooted in faith, mental health, and creative education — co-designed this transformative model from the ground up.
Bishop Victor Glover
Fathers on the Move
SE Regional Director / CGGC & CEO. Provides Certified Peer Support Specialists and faith-rooted mentorship for men rebuilding their lives and families.
Max Shafir, MSW, LCSW
Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health
Executive Chair. Brings clinical expertise and legislative advocacy to ensure trauma-informed, mentally healthy program environments for every participant.
Douglas J. Greene, M.S.
KRE8ivU Multimedia Academy
Program Director & Founder. Pioneer in equity-centered creative education. Designed the full A.R.I.S.E. curriculum, L.A.U.N.C.H. business module, and Alumni Collective model.
Section 1
Executive Summary
The A.R.I.S.E. Re-Entry Institute is a transformational program that turns formerly incarcerated adults into creative entrepreneurs — not job-seekers, but business owners operating sustainable multimedia companies. We recognize that success in the creative industries requires not just technical skills, but comprehensive understanding of the entire ecosystem: all available jobs, multiple revenue streams, industry platforms, professional organizations, and pathways to sustainable income.
We don’t give away equipment or create dependency on employment. We create ownership: graduates form LLCs, manage their own creative services business, and access professional-grade equipment through the A.R.I.S.E. Alumni Collective. Critically, we pair intensive 14-week live instruction with five comprehensive training manuals (500+ pages total) covering the complete creative industries landscape — every job, every revenue stream, every platform, every union, every decision a creative entrepreneur needs to make.
At a Glance
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Program Duration | 14 weeks (post-release) + 4–6 weeks pre-release (prison partnership, optional) |
| Cohort Size | 20 participants/year (two 10-person cohorts) |
| Contact Hours (Live Instruction) | 126 total (90 technical + 36 business/mentorship) |
| Self-Directed Learning (via Manuals) | 60–80 hours (reading, exploration, interviews, case studies) |
| Core Curriculum | Audio/Music Production OR Cinematography/Filmmaking + Business Formation + Comprehensive Industry Knowledge |
| Completion Model | Graduation at 80+ sessions attended + capstone project + LLC formation + industry knowledge assessments |
| Post-Graduation Engagement | 12-month placement in A.R.I.S.E. Alumni Collective (15% → 10% commission, then independent) |
| Annual Budget | $549,400–$560,400 (includes $26.5K–$37K for manual production Year 1) |
| Cost Per Participant | $27,470–$28,020 (comprehensive ecosystem investment) |
Why This Matters
68% of people released from state prison are re-arrested within three years. Yet research shows that formerly incarcerated individuals who participate in sustained creative programming, mentorship, and business ownership models experience recidivism rates below 5%. This is not rehabilitation theory — this is proven economics and psychology. The A.R.I.S.E. model combines all three, backed by comprehensive documentation of industry pathways so graduates understand not just how to produce, but how to monetize, legally operate, and sustain long-term creative careers.
Section 2
The Problem & Opportunity
The Opportunity
The creative industries — audio production, music, filmmaking, content creation — are among the fastest-growing sectors where skill, portfolio, and reputation matter more than criminal background checks. Entrepreneurs who own their LLCs can compete on merit. A.R.I.S.E. closes this gap by combining technical mastery, business formation, and comprehensive industry knowledge into a model that creates owners, not employees.
This is not a charity pitch. This is an investment in human potential, economic stability, and public safety. Every program component is tested. Every dollar is tracked. Every participant outcome is measured.
Section 3
The Core Model: Create · Launch · Sustain
A.R.I.S.E. is structured across three phases — each building on the last — to carry participants from their first session inside the facility all the way to independent creative business ownership.
Create
Weeks 1–8
Technical foundations in Audio/Music Production or Cinematography/Filmmaking. Live instruction, hands-on equipment use, portfolio building, and L.A.U.N.C.H. business module introduction.
Launch
Weeks 8–14
LLC formation, EIN registration, banking, pricing strategy, marketing, first client work, capstone project. Graduates leave with a functioning business — not just a certificate.
Sustain
Months 1–12 Post-Graduation
12-month Alumni Collective membership. Booking support, equipment access for jobs, peer mentorship, commission-based client referrals, and progressive independence.
L.A.U.N.C.H. Business Curriculum
Integrated throughout the 14 weeks, the L.A.U.N.C.H. module builds the business infrastructure every graduate needs on Day 1:
- L — LLC Formation: EIN, bank account, liability protection
- A — Accounting & Pricing: Market research, invoicing, pitch scripts
- U — Understanding Your Market: LinkedIn, email campaigns, referrals, testimonials
- N — Networking & Brand Development: Logo, website, portfolio, social media
- C — Contracts & Legal: Work-for-hire vs. licensing, rider riders, copyright
- H — How to Get Paid: Self-employment tax, Wave/QuickBooks, CPA referrals
A.R.I.S.E. Alumni Collective — Post-Graduation Support
Months 1–6
15%
Commission on gross project revenue. In return: booking support, equipment loans, liability coverage, business mentorship.
Months 7–12
10%
Commission rate reduces as graduates build independent client relationships and financial stability.
After Month 12
0%
Graduate goes fully independent. We retain nothing. Fair, transparent, and designed to celebrate their success — not extract from it.
Section 4
Participant Support Structure
Paid Wage — Not a Stipend
$20/hr · Professional Employment Wage
Participants earn a real, documented employment wage — not charity, not a stipend. This wage is reported, taxed appropriately, and builds legitimate employment history. They earn it through professional-grade technical instruction and capstone work.
Peer Support & Mentorship
Certified Peer Support Specialists
Two FTE Peer Support Specialists from Fathers on the Move — individuals with lived experience who walk alongside participants through housing, family, mental health, and reentry navigation. They show what’s possible.
Industry Mentors
Two part-time contract mentors (one Audio, one Cinematography) provide bi-weekly technical mentoring, first-job referrals, portfolio feedback, and real-world problem-solving. Scope: 2 hrs/week.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
~0.3 FTE LCSW provides bi-weekly individual sessions, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and bridges to community mental health. Ensures every participant feels safe, heard, and supported.
Holistic Wraparound Services
- Transportation Vouchers — Ensures no participant misses a session due to lack of transit
- Meals During Sessions — Lunch 3×/week. Food insecurity is not a barrier to learning.
- Housing Navigation Referrals — Peer specialists connect unstable-housing participants to partners
- Family Engagement Modules — For participants with strong family support systems
- Emergency Funds Access — Small-scale crisis support to prevent dropout from unforeseen barriers
Section 5
Curriculum & Knowledge Ecosystem
The A.R.I.S.E. curriculum operates on a dual-track model: intensive live instruction (14 weeks, 126 contact hours) anchored by self-directed learning through five professional training manuals (500+ pages). This ensures graduates leave with both technical mastery AND comprehensive understanding of the entire creative industries landscape.
14-Week Live Instruction Structure
| Week(s) | Focus | Live Hours | Self-Directed / Manuals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Digital Bridge + Foundation | 9 hrs | Job Map overview, industry intro |
| 3–5 | Technical Fundamentals | 27 hrs | Industry standards, day rates, equipment needs |
| 6 | Advanced Skills + Industry Context | 9 hrs | Research professional case studies |
| 7–9 | L.A.U.N.C.H. + Capstone Prep | 27 hrs | Pricing, sales, getting paid modules |
| 10–11 | L.A.U.N.C.H. + First Client Work | 18 hrs | Freelance platforms, unions, legal basics |
| 12–14 | Capstone + Portfolio Launch | 9 hrs | Contracts, legal review, next steps |
Session Scoring & Graduation Requirements
Each session is scored 1–5 based on participation, technical progress, and collaboration. Participants need 80+ average score and 17+ sessions attended (out of 30) to graduate, plus a completed capstone project and LLC formation.
Five Comprehensive Training Manuals (500+ pages)
Manual 1: The Creative Industries Job Map
120–150 pages. Every job in audio/video/media — earnings, union status, career trajectory, case studies. 25+ audio roles, 30+ video roles, 10+ hybrid leadership roles.
Manual 2: Freelance Work & Gig Platforms
80–100 pages. Upwork, Fiverr, 99designs, Pond5, AudioJungle, Splice, Shutterstock, Behance, ArtStation — income potential, scam warnings, pricing strategy, tax/1099 tracking.
Manual 3: Getting Paid — Royalties, Residuals & Rights
100–120 pages. PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC), mechanical royalties, sync licensing, streaming platforms (realistic numbers), YouTube monetization, publishing & ownership.
Manual 4: Unions, Guilds & Professional Organizations
60–80 pages. SAG-AFTRA, AFM, IATSE, NABET — how to join, benefits, scale rates, crossing lines, non-union work, and leveraging professional memberships.
Manual 5: The Business of Creative Work
80–100 pages. LLC vs. S-Corp, contracts, work-for-hire, licensing, NDAs, rates negotiation, client management, professional email, invoice templates, liability protection.
Section 8
Equipment Library & Resources
Depot / Collective Model — Equipment is Loaned, Not Given
A.R.I.S.E. operates a professional-grade shared equipment library. Equipment is loaned to participants during active jobs — it is not distributed as individual gifts or giveaways. This depot/collective model ensures active use, quality maintenance, and creates ongoing employment for alumni who transition into Equipment Coordinator roles.
Total Equipment Library: $120,000
Audio Production Library
$45,000
Professional-grade DAW setups, studio microphones, audio interfaces, monitoring speakers, headphones, acoustic treatment, portable recording kits.
Loaned for JobsCinematography Library
$65,000
Cinema cameras, lighting kits, prime lenses, color grading suite, drone, tripods, sliders, gimbals, stabilization systems, portable field monitors.
Loaned for JobsMobile Workstations
$24,000
20× MacBook Air M2 ($1,200/device). Available for checkout during jobs; enables remote production work. Returned to collective upon graduation or program exit.
Loaned — Not GiftedSoftware & Infrastructure
$16,000
Logic Pro, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Adobe Creative Cloud — annual licenses + studio setup: desks, networking, cable runs, acoustic treatment.
Collective ResourceWhy the collective model works: Equipment depreciates less, stays in professional condition, generates rental revenue (Year 2+), creates an Equipment Coordinator job for alumni, and demonstrates sophisticated asset management to funders.
Section 10
Participant Selection & Intake
Eligibility Criteria
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 18+ (no upper limit) |
| Status | Released within past 6 months OR in final 4–6 weeks of incarceration (prison partnership, pre-release) |
| Referral Source | Probation/parole officer, reentry agency, correctional facility, housing program, court-appointed reentry services |
| Commitment | Agreement to attend all sessions (with excused absences for emergencies) and complete capstone project |
| Transportation | Safe and reliable access to program location (transportation vouchers provided if needed) |
| Exclusions | None. No exclusions based on offense type, substance use history, or mental health status. All backgrounds welcome. |
Pre-Release Program Access
A.R.I.S.E. begins inside the facility — participants start their creative journey 4–6 weeks before discharge, not after. This critical window allows orientation, track selection, early business formation concepts, and relationship-building with instructors and peers before the stress of re-entry begins.
This is our competitive differentiator: participants walk out of the facility knowing their cohort, their instructor, and their first day of class. The community is already built.
Intake Process
Referral
Probation officer or reentry agency submits referral with demographics, housing status, and release timeline.
Intake Interview
Program Coordinator conducts 45-minute interview covering reentry history, housing, family support, mental health/substance use history, creative interests, and transportation.
Track Selection
Participant indicates preference: Audio/Music Production or Cinematography/Filmmaking. Both lead to the same business formation outcomes.
Informed Consent
Participant reviews program agreement, paid wage structure ($20/hr — not a stipend), equipment loan terms and liability, mental health protocols, mandatory reporting requirements.
Enrollment
Participant assigned to next cohort. If pre-release eligible (4–6 weeks from discharge), pre-release orientation is scheduled inside the facility.
Asset-Based Assessment
During intake, we document not just barriers but assets: prior work experience, creative interests, family support, technical skills, transportation resources, housing stability. This shapes mentorship allocation — unstable housing gets priority for emergency funds; strong family support gets family engagement modules. We meet people where they are, and we build from strength.
Section 11
Financial Model & Sustainability
The A.R.I.S.E. financial model combines grant funding (operations), paid wages (participant compensation at $20/hr — not stipends), and earned revenue (equipment rental + booking commissions) to create a clear path toward long-term sustainability.
Revenue Streams
1. Grant Funding (Primary Year 1–2)
- Second Chance Act (DOJ) — $200K–$500K
- SAMHSA Offender Reentry — $50K–$150K
- NC Workforce Development Board (NCWorks) — $50K–$100K
- NCDPS Reentry Grants — $25K–$75K
- JCPC (through existing partnerships) — $30K–$90K
- Foundation funding (private and family foundations) — $50K–$200K
- Corporate CSR / Equipment Grants (Sony, Adobe, DaVinci) — $5K–$50K in-kind
2. A.R.I.S.E. Alumni Collective Commissions (Year 1+)
- Months 1–6 (or first 6 jobs): 15% commission on gross project revenue
- Months 7–12: 10% commission on gross project revenue
- After 12 months: Graduate goes independent; we retain 0%
Projected Year 1 Commission Revenue: $8,000–$15,000
3. Equipment Rental Revenue (Year 2+)
Alumni and external clients rent equipment at below-market rates. Projected Year 2–3 Revenue: $3,000–$8,000/year
4. Licensing & Scaling Model (Year 3+)
As A.R.I.S.E. proves outcomes, we can license the curriculum, manuals, and operational model to other reentry agencies, YMCAs, workforce boards, and community colleges. Licensing revenue creates long-term sustainability.
Sustainability Roadmap
Year 1: 100% Grant-Funded
Pilot phase focus: execution, data collection, outcome documentation. Primary funding from Second Chance Act or state JCPC/reentry sources.
Years 2–3: 75–80% Grant
Commission revenue ($15K–$35K), equipment rental ($2K–$8K), early-stage licensing ($0–$5K) begin offsetting operational costs.
Year 4+: 60–65% Grant
Commission + rental growing, licensing partnerships with 2–3 organizations generating $20K–$50K annually. Scalable, replicable, nationally exportable model.
Transparency: What Participants Pay Back
Unlike exploitative programs that take 30–50% of earnings, A.R.I.S.E. commissions are transparent and time-limited. “For the first 6 months, we take 15% — that’s our compensation for connecting you to work and lending equipment. After that, you own your business.” After 12 months, they’re completely independent. Fair, transparent, creating natural incentive for us to place high-quality work.
Section 12
Budget & Annual Costs
Year 1 Total Budget
$549,400 – $560,400
Full operational setup for 2 cohorts (20 participants), including strategic investment in professional training manual production.
Personnel Budget
| Position | FTE | Year 1 Salary | Year 2+ Salary | Year 1 Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Director/Coordinator | 1.0 | $95,000 | $110,000 | $95,000 |
| Certified Peer Support Specialist (Fathers on the Move) | 2.0 | $42,000 each | $42,000 each | $84,000 |
| Technical Instructor (Audio) | 0.5 | $30,000 FTE | $30,000 FTE | $15,000 |
| Technical Instructor (Video) | 0.5 | $30,000 FTE | $30,000 FTE | $15,000 |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (contract) | ~0.3 | Per-hour contract | Per-hour contract | $22,000 |
| Industry Mentor — Audio (contract) | ~0.1 | Per-hour contract | Per-hour contract | $7,000 |
| Industry Mentor — Video (contract) | ~0.1 | Per-hour contract | Per-hour contract | $7,000 |
| Personnel Subtotal | $245,000 |
Participant Wages $20/hr — Not a Stipend
| Wage Structure | Per Participant | No. Participants | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20/hr × 3 hrs/day × 3 days/wk × 14 weeks = 126 hrs | $2,520 | 20 | $50,400 |
Program Operations
| Expense Category | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Facility lease (studio space, classroom, offices) | $36,000 |
| Utilities, insurance, maintenance | $12,000 |
| Transportation (participant vouchers) | $6,000 |
| Meals during sessions (lunch 3×/week) | $8,000 |
| Materials, supplies, printing | $4,000 |
| Software licenses (Zoom, project management, accounting) | $3,000 |
| Professional liability and property insurance | $5,000 |
| Marketing, outreach, recruitment | $4,000 |
| Operations Subtotal | $78,000 |
Equipment & Technology
| Category | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Production Equipment Library | $45,000 | Professional-grade DAW setups, mics, interfaces, monitoring |
| Cinematography Equipment Library | $65,000 | Cinema cameras, lighting, lenses, color grading suite, drone |
| Software Licenses (Logic Pro, DaVinci, Adobe, etc.) | $8,000 | Annual subscription costs |
| Studio Setup & Infrastructure | $8,000 | Desks, chairs, networking, cable runs, acoustic treatment |
| Loaned Laptops / Mobile Workstations (20× MacBook Air M2 — loaned via Equipment Library, not gifted) | $24,000 | $1,200 per device: Available for checkout during jobs; returned to collective upon graduation or program exit |
| Equipment & Technology Subtotal | $150,000 |
Curriculum Resources & Professional Manual Publishing
| Category | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Research & Content Development | $8,000–$10,000 | SME interviews, data gathering, case studies, rates research |
| Professional Design & Layout | $5,000–$7,000 | InDesign, professional typography, KRE8ivU branding |
| Copy Editing & Proofreading | $2,000–$3,000 | Grammar, accuracy, style consistency |
| Illustrations & Diagrams | $2,000–$3,000 | Career trees, flowcharts, templates, visual aids |
| Initial Printing (500 sets × 5 manuals) | $8,000–$12,000 | Full-color, professional binding, 100+ pages per manual |
| Digital Asset Production (PDFs, hosting) | $1,500–$2,000 | Searchable PDFs, cloud storage, download portal |
| Publishing Subtotal (Year 1) | $26,500–$37,000 |
Complete Budget Summary — Year 1
| Category | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Personnel | $245,000 |
| Participant Wages ($20/hr paid wage — not stipends) | $50,400 |
| Program Operations | $78,000 |
| Equipment & Technology | $150,000 |
| Curriculum & Manual Publishing (Year 1) | $26,500–$37,000 |
| TOTAL YEAR 1 BUDGET | $549,400–$560,400 |
Cost Per Participant: $549,400–$560,400 ÷ 20 = $27,470–$28,020 per participant
With earned revenue (commissions $8K–$15K + rental $2K–$5K): Net Year 1 cost ≈ $529,400–$547,400
Year 2 Budget (Scaling to 3–4 Cohorts)
Fixed costs (facility, insurance, management) remain stable. Participant-variable costs (wages, loaned laptops, materials) scale linearly. Manual updates become maintenance ($3K–$4K). Equipment depreciation ($8K–$12K). Projected Year 2 budget: $640K–$680K for 40–50 participants = $16,000–$17,000 cost per participant with earned revenue growth to $40K–$60K.
Section 16
Partnerships & The Ask
A.R.I.S.E. works because it is built on partnership. We invite funders, reentry agencies, and employers to co-create an ecosystem where formerly incarcerated people own their creative futures.
Funders & Grantmakers
Fund a pilot year that proves the model, generates outcome data, and positions A.R.I.S.E. for national replication. Your investment creates replicable, scalable programming that other organizations can license. This is not just a local program — it’s a model with statewide and national potential.
Year 1 Ask: $549,400–$560,400 (operations, personnel, equipment, participant wages for 20 participants across 2 cohorts, professional manual production)
Referral Partners
Refer justice-involved adults who want to build creative careers. We handle intake, instruction, mentorship, 12-month post-graduation support. No cost to your agency. Your clients gain a business credential, immediate income, and dramatically reduced recidivism risk.
Ideal referrals: Justice-involved adults 4–6 weeks before release or within 6 months of release who have creative interests and the drive to build something real.
Employer & Booking Partners
Partner with A.R.I.S.E. Alumni Collective for on-demand creative services. Hire graduates for full-time or project-based work. Access a talent pipeline of skilled, motivated professionals who bring lived experience and unstoppable perspective to your team.
Services: Video production, audio production, podcast editing, event coverage, social media content, music production, voiceover, post-production.
We Believe
We believe that every person deserves a second act. The A.R.I.S.E. Re-Entry Institute is the stage.
Formerly incarcerated people don’t need handouts — they need real opportunity. And they’re ready to create it. This is not a charity pitch. This is an investment in human potential, economic stability, and public safety.