The Hustler Files Ep 32

SETTING THE STAGE FOR EPISODE 33

As a prelude to the upcoming Episode 33, we thought we’d re-air an interview we featured a few months back to set the stage for that future episode. Twenty million Americans struggle with alcohol. For Melissa, it was a triple threat – alcohol, drugs, and anger. From the very young age of 11 till her 37th birthday, Melissa led the worst side of hustling to keep her addictions and adrenaline fed. In her own words, she describes the constant ‘skid bid’ as she calls it, how the tribe she surrounded herself with was literally loving her to death. and how she finally found a way out.

The Hustler Files Ep 31

TO HELP OTHERS WE MUST FIRST UNDERSTAND WHAT THE JOURNEY ENTAILS

Back at Episode 26, Ed Hayes and Levin Schwartz of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Western Massachusetts stopped by to share some snippets of their work behind the wall, their travels and education of best practices to states and counties that are not as forward moving as Franklin County, and the factual research behind the high levels of incarceration. With much left on the table, Ed and Levin return to continue the conversation and discuss the upcoming Federal Medicaid that will be available to incarcerated individuals in 14 states starting in 2025.

The Hustler Files Ep 30

WHEN YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEA IS LITERALLY UNDER YOUR BED

You might not think incarceration and entrepreneurship have a common thread, but they do. Many who become incarcerated were arrested for illegal activities, for which, an entrepreneurial mindset was part of their ill begotten success. Even once behind the wall, many continue with their nefarious activities. Eli was just such a person, and thus was put on 24/7 house arrest to attempt to curb his entrepreneurial ways. But Eli has the entrepreneurial gene, initially ignited by candy sales in grade school, and as Eli himself says, ‘with all that time locked inside at home, I had to find something to keep busy and make money…’. It was there and then that Eli created Filthy Kicks and with the help of Social Entrepreneur, Max, his entrepreneurial cohort, Greenspace, and Eli’s very supportive attorney named Kevin, Eli’s business idea and hard work has changed the trajectory of Eli’s life. Visit Filthy Kicks shoe store or FilthyKicks777 on Instagram.

The Hustler Files Ep 29

ON THE JOB TRAINING IN THE MOST UNLIKELY OF PLACES

It may not be commonplace to find vocational training behind the wall, but more and more jails and prisons are bringing a variety of industries, inside, not only to generate revenue, but also to offer training to those who are incarcerated, so they have better opportunities for jobs upon returning to the community. From culinary to welding, and building trades to sewing, local jails, like the Hampden County jail, created York Street Industries to not only train the revolving, selected few who want to make the best of their time behind the wall, but also create items that are used within the jail or commissioned from local companies within the community.

The Hustler Files Ep 28

THE COMMUNITY PROSECUTION MODEL IS GETTING SMARTER & FAIRER, IN SOME PLACES

‘To be a transformational leader and coach, you must deeply understand what you are transforming’. This quote by an unknown author was perfectly suited to this week’s conversation with a District Attorney in Western Mass who has two counties, 47 towns, six Courts and a myriad of worker bees under his care. With more than 33 years of public service, DA David Sullivan is changing the prosecution model by blending smart and fair prosecutions, crime prevention programs, law enforcement partnerships and community collaborations to build safer communities within his jurisdiction and that includes keeping juveniles (17 and Under) from carrying a record with them.

The Hustler Files Ep 27

A MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS FLASHBACK

DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WERE UNABLE TO BRING YOU A NEW SHOW THIS WEEK, SO ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES AND ENJOY A FLASHBACK TO ONE OF THE HUSTLER FILES MORE POPULAR SHOWS! WE’LL BE BACK WITH A NEW EPISODE FOR SHOW #28 NEXT WEEK!

Bruce Willis, THE Actor, has a quote, ‘You Can’t Undo The Past, But You Can Certainly Not Repeat It’.  Many people residing behind the wall have experienced disciplinary issues in their past.  A mindfulness program developed at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, by program manager Dan Cavanaugh, in 2019, is experiencing dramatic results for those participants who are currently incarcerated.  The program, aptly named, S.A.V.R., Stress, Anger, Violence Reduction, not only teaches meditation and mindful behavior but addresses topics like anger management, cognitive-behavioral therapy skills, parenting, and domestic violence. 

The Hustler Files Ep 26

THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL LIFE, KEEP MOVING FORWARD

Criminal Justice and Prison Reform may vary from State to State, but for those who understand that trauma is at the core of most incarcerated individuals, the key goal to their success, both behind the wall and upon returning to society, is to keep moving forward.  Sadly, not all jails and prisons consider the value of moving incarcerated individuals forward.  Thanks to researchers and change makers like Ed Hayes and Levin Schwartz, best practices and improved treatment of incarcerated individuals are being shared and implemented. 

The Hustler Files Ep 25

FROM CORRECTIONS TO THE CARDINAL, MEET KERON MCHUGH

Keron McHugh may have seemed like just another black-market bad boy when the Feds arrested him in 2010, but they never could have guessed that incarceration would actually be the change that Keron needed to find in himself.  In his seven years behind the wall, Keron not only read over 1,000 books (to self-educate) but was encouraged by his cell-mates to pursue the art of tattooing with only the rawest of materials available, due to his incredible ability to not just draw, but create breathtaking artwork. That trajectory gave Keron the grit he needed to sketch out his future as he served out his time, and followed Keron through his release from prison in 2017 and into what is now, an extremely successful skin art business in Mebane, North Carolina, The Cardinal Skin Art and Gallery.

The Hustler Files Ep 24

THE LAST MILE, FOR MANY, BECOMES A FIRST STEP

In 2010, Venture Capitalist, Chris Redlitz spoke to incarcerated men at the infamous San Quentin Prison. That visit inspired him to launch a technical program, for those incarcerated, that would disrupt the incarceration cycle and offer certifications in coding to enable those returning to society the opportunity to find employment.  The Last Mile technical program is now offered in 21 classrooms across 7 State prisons and has assisted 467 returning citizens in successful re-entry.  Molly and Kevin Kelly are two of those returned citizens who now work for The Last Mile as Returned Citizen Advocates and along that journey they also found love. 

The Hustler Files Ep 23

WE CAN’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE NOT EXPOSED TO

When a house of corrections is located in a rural, farming area, it’s a no-brainer to include a gardening program in the vocational and educational offerings to those incarcerated. The ‘students’ of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office get both classroom, and hands-on exposure to Gardening, Herbalism, and Nutrition Classes to increase collaboration skills and decrease stress. There is a level of therapy that growing and sharing food offers, including future opportunities in the agricultural industry once they are released. Of course, there are other vocational programs too, and work-release opportunities for those close to release, hoping to find a path once they have fulfilled their time served.