Transforming Lives Through Second Chances with Melissa O’Dell

In this powerful episode of Building Bridges, Amish sits down with Melissa O’Dell, Executive Director of Defy Ventures Illinois, a nonprofit redefining second chances for incarcerated individuals. Melissa shares her two-decade journey in criminal justice reform, the transformational impact of Defy’s entrepreneurship-based reentry programs, and what it means to truly build bridges between prisons and the broader economy.

From developing “CEO of Your New Life,” a robust curriculum taught inside prisons, to the real-world success stories of formerly incarcerated graduates, Melissa breaks down the barriers society places on people with criminal records — and how business leaders can be part of the solution.

For more information, visit: https://www.defyventures.org/