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; Passionate about making our justice system more just.
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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
Recruiting & Program Partnerships Manager

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

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