Two years after receiving a surprise $100 million donation from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, CNN host Van Jones reveals exclusively to Us Weekly how he’s investing the “miracle money” in innovative approaches designed to disrupt poverty and the prison industry in Black and brown communities. The philanthropic initiative aimed to honor those who have demonstrated courage and tried to be a unifier in a divisive world. Jones, known for his social justice activism, plans to invest the funds over the next eight years to make a significant difference in communities that have been historically marginalized.
Van Jones’ plan to disrupt systems holding underestimated communities back
Jones, who founded and led several not-for-profit organizations engaged in social and environmental justice, saw the $100 million grant as an opportunity to disrupt systems that have perpetuated poverty and the prison industry. He invested in Philadelphia-based non-profit Beat The Block, a program that incentivizes peace on the streets by offering paid training to young men to help them accomplish their personal and professional goals. Jones believes that financial incentives to engage in negative behaviors are high in underestimated communities and wants to change that by providing incentives for positive actions.
From Beat The Block to Untapped Solutions: Making a difference in underestimated communities
Jones’ investment in Beat The Block has yielded positive results. Out of the 58 participants, 88% found jobs, 57% started their own businesses, and 100% registered to vote. He also focused on helping 10 individuals, many of whom were formerly incarcerated, in creating businesses aimed at helping prisoners reintegrate into society. Companies such as Untapped Solutions, Rasa, and CodePath have flourished and are making a significant impact in the lives of the justice-impacted community.
Creating an ecosystem for decarceration: Supporting formerly incarcerated individuals
Jones partnered with individuals and organizations like Untapped Solutions and Rasa to create an ecosystem that supports decarceration. These businesses offer solutions such as professional networking technology tools, affordable record expungement services, and educational opportunities for marginalized communities. Jones wants to shift the focus from the incarceration industry to a decarceration industry, where individuals can make money by helping people stay out of prison and get on their feet when they’re released.
Investing in education and accessible financial services for underestimated communities
Recognizing the importance of education and access to financial services, Jones invested in CodePath and FRSH. CodePath aims to create a diverse generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders by delivering industry-vetted courses and career support to Black, Latino, Indigenous, and low-income students. FRSH, a personal financial management platform, provides banking services, debit cards, and access to health benefits for individuals who have historically not had access to modern banking products and services.
Van Jones’ $100 million investment from Jeff Bezos has allowed him to make significant contributions to disrupt poverty and the prison industry in Black and brown communities. Through his investments in programs and businesses like Beat The Block, Untapped Solutions, and Rasa, Jones has created opportunities for marginalized communities to break free from the cycle of poverty, incarceration, and limited resources. By focusing on education, affordable record expungement services, and accessible financial services, Jones is working towards creating a more equitable and just society. His commitment to path-breaking initiatives and his willingness to take chances are paving the way for a whole different system that prioritizes and uplifts underestimated communities.
Analyst comment
Positive news.
As an analyst, Van Jones’ investment in innovative approaches to disrupt poverty and the prison industry in Black and brown communities will have a transformative impact. The investments in programs like Beat The Block, Untapped Solutions, Rasa, CodePath, and FRSH will create opportunities for marginalized communities to break free from systemic challenges. This will lead to greater economic empowerment, education, and access to financial services, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and just society.
