Finding Freedom On the Open Road
On the Open Road
Founder and CEO of FreeWorld
When Jason Wang was arrested, he couldn’t imagine what his life might look like on the other side of prison. Now, he’s helping other justice-impacted individuals tap into their full potential.
As a child, Jason Wang found himself falling down a dark hole. “I was the only Chinese kid in my town, so I always felt alone,” he said. “I joined a gang when I was thirteen and a few years later I committed a serious felony.”
Eventually, Jason was sent to a maximum security prison for 12 years. “After my release, no one would hire me because of my record,” he said. “I even considered recommitting crimes just so that I could put food on the table.”
Unfortunately, Jason’s story isn’t unique. “Most of us are released from prison with high debt, low credit scores, and no way to work,” he said. “That leaves people in the same predicament they were in when they entered the justice system.”
Our goal is to show other companies the value of hiring someone with an arrest or conviction record.
When he couldn’t find a job, Jason created one for himself. Today, he’s the founder and CEO of FreeWorld, a non-profit organization that aims to accelerate economic mobility for justice-impacted individuals. There, Jason helps others like himself access the training they need to become a truck driver. “At FreeWorld, our goal is to show other companies the value of hiring someone with an arrest or conviction record,” said Jason.
While the national crime rate continues to decline, the number of people with an arrest or conviction record hasn’t changed. “More than 80 million adults in the US have an arrest or conviction record,” said Jason. “Imagine all of the potential we’re missing out on by not giving people opportunities after they’re released from prison.”
