Free Mind Entrepreneur Network

Fall 2023

Fellow: Anneliese Ashley

Jonathan Fritz, Isabella Colina Hidalgo, Denzel Jones, and Paul Urban

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COMMUNITY PARTNER

The Free Mind Entrepreneur Network is an organization founded by Stacey Torrance that aims to support and empower formerly incarcerated individuals. Through resources, training, and networking opportunities, Free Mind helps these individuals reintegrate into society and thrive. Stacey Torrance started Free Mind to make a difference in this community and provide second chances to those who have previously been incarcerated.

At the heart of Free Mind is the goal of reducing the recidivism rate in not just the local community but also beyond. They strive to provide equal opportunities for networking and employment to those who have been previously incarcerated. Additionally, Free Mind provides a platform for individuals to share their stories and experiences, which helps grow the network and support system.

DESIGN QUESTION

Website: “How can we enhance and modernize the Free Mind Entrepreneur Network's website to comprehensively showcase the organization's impactful initiatives, effectively communicate its mission, and provide an engaging platform for its audience?” The question at hand is how to revamp and modernize the Free Mind Entrepreneur Network's website to showcase its impactful initiatives, communicate its mission effectively, and provide an engaging platform for its audience. We put a lot of effort into updating the site and adding features such as a podcast section, blog, and more comprehensive information on the brand to improve the overall user experience and enhance Free Mind's image.

Newsletter: “How can we effectively highlight and inform individuals interested in supporting returning citizens? What design elements and storytelling approaches can be incorporated to engage the audience and communicate the positive impact of Free Mind's work?” When crafting the newsletter, the challenge was to highlight and inform individuals interested in supporting returning citizens effectively. We had to incorporate design elements and storytelling approaches that would engage the audience and communicate the positive impact of Free Mind's work. This was crucial to Free Mind's brand, and with the newsletter, we were able to reach more people than ever before and provide much more insight into the amazing work that Free Mind is doing.

STRATEGIC THINKING

Strategic thinking is a collaborative effort that involves researching, communicating, and understanding Stacey's goals. By working together, we can draw up plans of action that have a positive impact on the community. Stacey's main objective is to uplift, spread awareness, and instill hope, and we strive to consistently research and contribute to activities that contribute to the organization's success.

Thinking strategically means working towards a bigger picture. We want to set Stacey and the next group up for success so they can continue working towards these goals. We have some great ideas and a plan of action for what our team can do to support Stacey's organization and objectives. This includes creating newsletters, improving our online and media presence, and highlighting businesses that share Stacey's vision.

Overall, we recognize the importance of thinking beyond our immediate surroundings and working towards a greater good. By taking action and supporting Stacey's goals, we can make a real difference in the community and inspire others to do the same.

CO-CREATION

Throughout this process, we collaborated with Stacey and various members of the Network to ensure the successful completion of the project. It was a team effort, and we held bi-weekly Zoom meetings to discuss the project's progress and to get feedback from each member.

We all contributed unique ideas that helped shape the final product. Stacey provided the foundation for the project as the leader of Free Mind, and we worked with him to understand the project's goals. Our objective was to create weekly newsletters and update the website, and we strived to meet this objective with the resources we were given.

IMPACT STORY

Thanks to the joint efforts of Free Mind and our group, the organization's online presence has undergone a remarkable transformation. Our team collaborated on revamping the website, creating captivating social media content, a comprehensive newsletter, a blog, and producing a podcast series to showcase their mission and objectives. As a result, Free Mind has seen a significant increase in its audience and garnered more support for its cause. This project was a resounding success and helped the organization to further its mission in a meaningful way.

Website

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