The United States suffers from an issue that is not commonly talked about. Namely, it is the fact that people with criminal records can’t get a job. As a result, they become the dregs of society, lose family support, and eventually go on to reoffend. Yet, there was a person who broke this vicious circle. Her name is Teresa Hodge. Like many people before her, she was denied a job when she got out of prison.

However, unlike many other ex-cons, Teresa Hodge did not go down the path of brutality. In an attempt to deal with a problem, Teresa developed Mission: Launch. This program was to help others like her to gain access to banking procedures and jobs. Undoubtedly, Hodge has done an incredible job. Not for nothing did this woman spend most of her confinement behind books and training materials on entrepreneurship and business. With her help, a lot of people were able to get employment. Also, the problem of jobs for ex-cons got a hearing.

Thus, soon, the company she founded with just her daughter started to collaborate with the private sector, community development financial institutions, and government organizations. They have conducted many projects like Fair Chance Employment and Clean Slate DC. She has also collaborated with figures such as John Legend and Bank of America. Teresa Hodge was able to bring people from many different fields together to work hand in hand, giving the organization an excellent reputation.

All in all, Teresa changed the rules of the game not only for herself but for many people with criminal records. She could have stayed at the bottom of the food chain where she would, at best, not go to jail again. But this woman created a system where she wrapped everything upside down. In 2016, Teresa created the R3 Score, which could score risks using an algorithm. In short, this program could help employers calculate how competent a potential employee with a criminal record is. This creation was revolutionary. In the following chapters, let's take a closer look at exactly what Teresa did and why she succeeded.