Back in October, a few friends and I drove to the California Institution for Women to begin one of the most meaningful days of our lives. As a group of women in our early twenties, we drove along, our morning coffees in our hands, with no idea what our day would look like. The three of us had recently read Just Mercy, so we were all aware of the real-life injustices that land individuals into the prison system, but we had no idea what our day would entail. I didn’t even have an idea of what a prison physically looked like, let alone an idea of what the EITs would be like. My biggest concern was that I wasn’t going to have anything to offer the EITs. I was three years out of college, with barely any professional or life experience, and had no idea how I would provide feedback on business pitches or add something meaningful to conversations with EITs.

But the moment I walked through the door, welcomed by the hands of the EITs up in the air, dancing and laughing, I knew that I was entering something special. A place where past experiences didn’t matter, but empathy and connection did. The amount of enthusiasm in the room, displayed by the overwhelming excitement and joy on EITs and volunteers faces, was so abundant that any other thoughts fell by the wayside. 

The business pitch competition was incredible. Not only was it an experience filled with creative and well-thought out ideas but also a display of unparalleled passion. Business plans truly flowed from the hearts and souls of the EITs, and you could really see the level of care that they’d all put into their presentations. It was beautiful and heart-warming to watch the multiple rounds of feedback, as well as the excitement and gratitude beaming from both the volunteers and the EITs throughout the process. 

But, even more impactful than the business pitch competition was the “Step to the Line” exercise. During this activity, the volunteers and EITs connected over their shared experiences and hardships, breaking down emotional walls and embracing fear of judgment. Everyone shared, and it was clear that everyone was impacted. Looking down the line, you could see not only plenty of tears, but also an overwhelming sense of connection and empathy. 

And this was the beauty of a day with Defy Ventures, an experience filled with empathy and excitement and hope. It was a day without any focus on if you’re doing things correctly, or if you have enough to offer, or if your business idea is going to be fruitful, or if you won the competition.  On this day, Defy Ventures provided volunteers and EITs with the opportunity to connect, to hope, to find their self-worth, and most importantly, to believe in themselves.