Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: Defy Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) in the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp program are enrolled in a 17-week course that teaches the basics of launching a business. At this event, volunteers participate in a few rounds of small group business coaching and provide feedback, support, and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs preparing for their pitch showcase and graduation in the coming months. These events support entrepreneurship skills and, through conversations and connections with volunteers, enhance EITs' self-esteem, ambition, and sense of hope that is critical to their transformational journey.

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: The Accelerator Demo Day is the culmination of Defy's Business Accelerator, which helps Defy Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) get a business up and running. At this event, each EIT comes prepared to share their product or service from their newly launched business with the goal of generating sales and referrals. Join us for a virtual event with both Defy Tri-State and Defy Illinois to support EITs' businesses and hear their best sales pitches!

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: Join us for our volunteer info session! This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about Defy Ventures and ways to get involved. We will be discussing topics including Defy's volunteer opportunities, volunteer best practices, and Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) experiences. We will also be doing a deeper dive into volunteer engagement and expectations while allowing plenty of space for questions and comments. So please, tell a friend! We look forward to seeing you there.

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: This event is the culmination of the 17-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp program. After the pitch showcase, Defy Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) will receive their Certificates of Entrepreneurship issued by the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University and will be eligible to apply to our Business Accelerator program where they will develop a business plan, financial model, pitch deck, and learn how to scale their business. At these events, volunteers have the opportunity to hear EITs present their business pitches followed by Q&A and feedback sessions.

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: Join us for our volunteer info session! This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about Defy Ventures and ways to get involved. We will be discussing topics including Defy's volunteer opportunities, volunteer best practices, and Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) experiences. We will also be doing a deeper dive into volunteer engagement and expectations while allowing plenty of space for questions and comments. So please, tell a friend! We look forward to seeing you there.

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: Deep dives are coaching sessions that are focused on helping EITs more fully build out their business concepts and business pitches as they enter the final weeks of the Defy program. Volunteers provide in-depth feedback and coaching to EITs through multiple 20 - 25 minute coaching rotations to help them prepare for their pitch showcase and graduation in the coming weeks.

Sign up here!

Location: Address will be sent via email after registration

What’s it all about? Defy Tri-State’s Fall Fundraiser is returning to New York City this year! It will be a night full of food, fun, and storytelling. You will have the opportunity to hear from some of our Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) as they share their journeys through reentry and how they are continuing to defy the odds. There will also be food, drinks, and an auction table. This event will help support our growing transformational programming in the Tri-State area!

Buy tickets here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: EITs in the Bootcamp program are enrolled in a 17-week course that teaches the basics of launching a business. At this event, volunteers participate in a few rounds of small group business coaching and provide feedback, support, and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs preparing for their pitch showcase and graduation in the coming months. These events support entrepreneurship skills and, through conversations and connections with volunteers, enhance EITs' self-esteem, ambition, and sense of hope that is critical to their transformational journey.

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: The Accelerator Demo Day is the culmination of EITs' participation in Defy's Business Accelerator, which helps EITs get a business up and running. At this event, each EIT comes prepared to share their product or service from their newly launched business with the hope of generating sales and referrals. Join us for a virtual event to support EITs' businesses and hear their best sales pitches!

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: Join us for our volunteer info session! This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about Defy Ventures and ways to get involved. We will be discussing topics including Defy's volunteer opportunities, volunteer best practices, and Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) experiences. We will also be doing a deeper dive into volunteer engagement and expectations while allowing plenty of space for questions and comments. So please, tell a friend! We look forward to seeing you there.

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about our organization and how to get involved as a mentor or consultant for EITs in the Business Accelerator. We will be discussing topics that range from best practices, mentor expectations, and the components of mentoring, while allowing plenty of space for questions and comments. So please, tell a friend or coworker who may be interested in mentoring! We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Join Defy Ventures for a Business Pitch Showcase & Graduation. During this event, you will meet talented, ambitious Entrepreneurs In Training (EITs). As a volunteer, you will hear EITs present their business pitches followed by Q&A and feedback sessions. Volunteers will also be invited to provide written feedback. 

This event is the culmination of a 14-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Program. After the Pitch Showcase, EITs will receive a Defy Certificate of Completion, a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from the Drucker School of Business at Claremont Graduate University, and will be eligible to apply to our Business Accelerator Program where they can launch and develop their business further.

Join us in celebrating the EITs as they graduate from this first step of their entrepreneurial journey with Defy!

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Deep dives are coaching sessions that are focused on helping EITs more fully build out their business concepts and business pitches as they enter the final weeks of the Defy program. Volunteers provide in-depth feedback and coaching to EITs through multiple 20 - 25 minute coaching rotations to help them prepare for their pitch showcase and graduation in the coming weeks.

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom

Description: If you are new to the Defy community, join us for our virtual Volunteer Info Session! This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about Defy and the different ways to engage as a volunteer with the Tri-State chapter. We will be discussing topics that range from best practices, volunteer opportunities, and Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) experiences. We will also be doing a deeper dive into volunteer engagement and expectations, while allowing plenty of space for questions and comments. So please, tell a friend! We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom (Link will be provided after registration)

Description: EITs in the Bootcamp program are enrolled in a 14-week course that teaches the basics of launching a business. At this event, volunteers participate in a few rounds of small group business coaching and provide feedback, support, and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs preparing for their pitch showcase and graduation in the coming months. These events support entrepreneurship skills and, through conversations and connections with volunteers, enhance EITs' self-esteem, ambition, and sense of hope that is critical to their transformational journey.

Sign Up Here!

Location: SYPartners (Lower Manhattan) - You'll receive the exact address after signing up.

Description: The Accelerator Demo Day is the culmination of EITs' participation in Defy's Business Accelerator, which supports the launch of an EIT's business. At this event, each EIT comes prepared to share their product or service from their newly launched business with the hope of generating sales and referrals. Join us at this in-person event to support EITs' businesses and hear their best sales pitches!

Sign up for this event is now closed. Email [email protected] if you have any questions about upcoming events!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: If you are new to the Defy community, join us for our virtual Volunteer Info Session! This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about Defy and the different ways to engage as a volunteer with the Tri-State chapter. We will be discussing topics that range from best practices, volunteer opportunities, and Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) experiences. We will also be doing a deeper dive into volunteer engagement and expectations, while allowing plenty of space for questions and comments. So please, tell a friend! We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom link will be issued after signing up below.

Description: This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about our organization and how to get involved as a mentor or consultant for EITs in the Business Accelerator. We will be discussing topics that range from best practices, mentor expectations, and the components of mentoring, while allowing plenty of space for questions and comments. So please, tell a friend or coworker who may be interested in mentoring! We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign up here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Join Defy Ventures for a Business Pitch Showcase & Graduation. During this event, you will meet talented, ambitious Entrepreneurs In Training (EITs). As a volunteer, you will hear EITs present their business pitches followed by Q&A and feedback sessions. Volunteers will also be invited to provide written feedback. 

This event is the culmination of a 14-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Program. After the Pitch Showcase, EITs will receive a Defy Certificate of Completion, a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from the Drucker School of Business at Claremont Graduate University, and will be eligible to apply to our Business Accelerator Program where they can launch and develop their business further.

Join us in celebrating the EITs as they graduate from this first step of their entrepreneurial journey with Defy!

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Join us for our Volunteer Info Session event! This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about Defy Ventures and ways to get involved. We will be discussing topics that range from best practices, volunteer opportunities, and Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) experiences. We will also be doing a deeper dive into volunteer engagement and expectations, while allowing plenty of space for questions, comments, and concerns. So please, tell a friend! We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Deep dives are coaching sessions that are focused on helping EITs more fully build out their business concepts and business pitches as they enter the final weeks of the Defy program. Volunteers provide in-depth feedback and coaching to EITs through multiple 20 - 25 minute coaching rotations to help them prepare for their pitch showcase and graduation in the coming weeks.

Sign Up Here!

**If you have not yet registered as a volunteer with Defy, please do so before signing up for this event.

Location: The Tillary Hotel, 85 Flatbush Ave Ext, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Description: In partnership with Exodus Transitional Community and Social Justice Network, Defy is hosting the Advance the Second Chance Entrepreneur Expo. This event will bring together some of the most inspirational stories of entrepreneurship and social impact in one room. It will highlight formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs as they build their small businesses and act as representatives of what is possible when the business community embraces social justice.

In addition to the expo area and opportunities to network, the center stage panel discussions will feature leaders at the forefront of driving impact and opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals. This conversation will revolve around how the private-sector, government, and nonprofit communities are coming together to shift the conversation and provide opportunities for people with criminal histories to have access to sustainable employment and build profitable businesses.

About Defy: Defy Ventures is a national nonprofit organization that provides personal development, career readiness, and entrepreneurship training to currently and formerly incarcerated adults. Our mission is to give people with criminal histories their best shot a second chance. Our vision is to cut the recidivism rate in half by leveraging entrepreneurship to improve economic opportunity and transform lives.

Sign Up Here!

**If you have not yet registered as a volunteer with Defy, please do so before signing up for this event.

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: EITs in the Bootcamp program are enrolled in a 14-week course that teaches the basics of launching a business. At this event, volunteers participate in a few rounds of small group business coaching and provide feedback, support, and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs preparing for their pitch showcase and graduation in the coming months. These events support entrepreneurship skills and, through conversations and connections with volunteers, enhance EITs' self-esteem, ambition, and sense of hope that is critical to their transformational journey.

Sign Up Here!

**If you have not yet registered as a volunteer with Defy, please do so before signing up for this event.

Location: Zoom - link provided upon registration

Description: Join us for a virtual screening of a Daytime Emmy Award-Nominated series, Recipe for Change: Amplifying Black Women. The 48-minute documentary centers on the stories and experiences of Black women, and celebrates their perseverance and strength while making space for joy and the power of sisterhood. Gathering celebrities, chefs, activists and creators including Mary J. Blige, Saweetie, Tabitha Brown, Chlöe Bailey, Winnie Harlow, Kelly Rowland, Angelica Ross, Roxane Gay and more to discuss important and timely topics such as codeswitching, colorism, and mental health. 

We will screen the documentary at 5pm via Zoom and follow with a discussion at 6pm. If you prefer to watch the documentary on your own, a viewing link will be provided upon registration, and you can join us for the discussion starting at 6pm.

Sign Up Here!

**If you have not yet registered as a volunteer with Defy, please do so before signing up for this event.

Location: Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY) - park location provided upon registration

Description: Join us for an opportunity to network and get to know each other in person, while strengthening and growing the Defy community! We will highlight Bernice Dohn, a Defy EIT currently in our Accelerator program, who will be showcasing her healthy dog snacks. Bernice's business, Canine Chef LLC, is a holistic canine business providing creative cuisine for canine care.

This is a dog-friendly event since we'll be in the park. Bernice will have some snacks for your dogs to try and there's a dog run nearby as well.

About Defy: Defy Ventures is a national nonprofit organization that provides personal development, career readiness, and entrepreneurship training to currently and formerly incarcerated adults. Our mission is to give people with criminal histories their best shot a second chance. Our vision is to cut the recidivism rate in half by leveraging entrepreneurship to improve economic opportunity and transform lives.

Sign Up Here!

**If you have not yet registered as a volunteer with Defy, please do so before signing up for this event.

Location: Stamford, CT 06902 - park location provided upon registration

Description: Join us for an opportunity to network and get to know each other in person, while strengthening and growing the Defy community! We will highlight Bernice Dohn, a Defy EIT currently in our Accelerator program, who will be showcasing her healthy dog snacks. Bernice's business, Canine Chef LLC, is a holistic canine business providing creative cuisine for canine care.

This is a dog-friendly event since we'll be in the park. Bernice will have some dog snacks for your dogs to try, along with some snacks for purchase. There's a dog park nearby as well.

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Join Defy Ventures for a Business Pitch Showcase & Graduation. During this event, you will meet talented, ambitious Entrepreneurs In Training (EITs). As a volunteer, you will hear EITs present their business pitches followed by Q&A and feedback sessions. Volunteers will also be invited to provide written feedback. 

This event is the culmination of a 14-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Program. After the Pitch Showcase, EITs will receive a Defy Certificate of Completion, a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from the Drucker School of Business at Claremont Graduate University, and will be eligible to apply to our Business Accelerator Program where they can launch and develop their business further.

Join us in celebrating the EITs as they graduate from this first step of their entrepreneurial journey with Defy!

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Join us for our Volunteer Orientation event! This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about Defy Ventures and ways to get involved. We will be discussing topics that range from best practices, volunteer opportunities, and Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) experiences. We will also be doing a deeper dive into volunteer engagement and expectations, while allowing plenty of space for questions, comments, and concerns. So please, tell a friend! We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign Up Here!

Location: Zoom (link will be issued after registering)

Description: Join Defy Ventures for a Business Deep Dive event! During this event, you will meet talented, ambitious Entrepreneurs In Training (EITs) who are enrolled in our 14-week Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Program. As a volunteer, you will be able to provide in-depth feedback, strategy, and coaching to aspiring entrepreneurs in long-form coaching sessions as they prepare for their Pitch Showcase and Graduation on April 27. Business Deep Dives are wonderful ways to connect with like-minded volunteers and empower EITs on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Sign Up Here!