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Worth more than our worst decisions.

My name is Jason and I am the founder and CEO of FreeWorld. I'm also formerly incarcerated.

My name is Jason and I am the founder and CEO of FreeWorld. I'm also formerly incarcerated. I was incarcerated for a 1st degree felony (Aggravated Robbery) at the age of 15. I was given a 12-year sentence at a maximum security prison in Texas.

When I was released, I felt lost. The world had passed me by. Before I went to prison I had a flip phone; when I was released, everyone was carrying around an iPhone 3. The first time I saw that I said, “what the fuck is an iPhone.” Times sure had changed.

Parole required me to get a job. Every time I applied for a job I was denied employment due to my felony. The jobs that would take me, paid less than $10/hour. Stealing and dealing paid better than that, but I knew that the next time I went to prison, I would end up doing life. I wanted to find a better way.

Long story short, I've been blessed in life because good people invested in me, guided me, and believed in me. I earned a double Masters degree, started a few businesses, and married the most beautiful woman in the world.

My life's mission is to end mass incarceration. I plan on doing that by equipping 26 million formerly incarcerated people across the nation with the tools, education, and the jobs they need in order to live positive, productive lives. Right now, that means investing in your education and getting you a badass job as a truck driver. That's why we're doing this. Because we all deserve a legitimate second chance.

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Meet the Team

  • Alaysha Harden

    Success Coach

    People Advocate with experience in operations, technical support, and people development

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  • Alissa Efteland

    Grants Manager

    Experienced development professional and writer with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit and social services industries.

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  • Allison Carroll

    Education Manager

    Educator with 20+ years teaching/facilitation experience in public, private, & corporate education settings.

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  • Andreas Casar

    Employer Partnerships Specialist

    Sales professional with 6+ years of experience in the trucking industry. A relationship builder & natural cold-caller.

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  • Benjamin Bechtolsheim

    Chief Operating Officer

    Mission driven leader with experience across public, private and non-profit sectors.

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  • Brigid Toney

    Program Manager

    MS in Criminal Justice; Worked with returning citizens pre- and post-release on programing and job readiness.

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  • Chris Milmore

    Grant Writer

    Experienced grant writer and administrator with a passion for mission-driven work.

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  • Emmanuel Martinez

    Success Coach

    Success Coach, driven by a mission of redemption and empowerment. Now, guiding others on their path to success.

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  • Heath Pannell

    CDL A Theory Instructor

    CDL Instructor with 8 years of experience as a dedicated educator and as a CDL A professional driver.

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  • Jamar Greene

    Success Coach

    Professional advocate with over 20+ years of experience in Non-Profit/Social Services.

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  • Jason Long

    Senior Engineer

    Full Stack Engineer who specializes in improving efficacy for tech-organizations. Previously Incarcerated.

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  • Jeff Lee

    Success Coach

    Formerly incarcerated pastor and community leader with over 10 years of experience in career development and reentry support. 

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  • Kristalyn Jones

    Business Operations Specialist

    Operations Lead with a passion for creating engaging workplaces with a commitment to enhancing employee experiences and driving organizational success.

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  • Matthew Bedard

    Software Engineer

    Full Stack Engineer with experience in big data and e-commerce.

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  • O'Neal Heard

    Post-Program & Job Placement Manager

    Previously worked as a CDL A Driver. FreeWorld Graduate; Dedicated Team Lead; Previously Incarcerated.

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  • Priscilla Hung

    User Experience Designer

    A dedicated optimist who carefully crafts experiences to empower all people to live their best life.

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  • Ross Patton

    Engineering Lead

    Engineering Lead with 10+ years of experience. Previously employed by WIRED, Iodine, and GoodRx.

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  • Shawna Canady

    People Empowerment Director

    Operations factotum specializing in creating and scaling internal processes for startup organizations.

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  • Steph Knox

    Success Coach

    Empathetic coach and educator with a passion for social justice and creating an equitable world for everyone.

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  • Veronica Pearson

    CDL A Theory Instructor

    Reliable and dedicated CDL holder and instructor with 40 years of experience in trucking, education, and healthcare industries.

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Board of Directors

  • Andy Bromberg

    Director

    CEO ECO

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  • Jason Green

    Chairman

    Founder & General Partner Emergence Capital

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  • Jason Wang

    Director

    Founder & CEO FreeWorld

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  • Kumar Garg

    Director

    Managing Director Schmidt Futures

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