Civic Grit

for more information

email: greg@civicgrit.org

Empowering Lawful Lives Through Business Education

Civic Grit is a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping incarcerated individuals with the knowledge, tools, and support to build lawful, self-directed lives through entrepreneurship and small business ownership.

Our mission is to reduce recidivism, support civic responsibility, and promote economic resilience among justice-impacted individuals through business education and mentoring.

Building exterior in Toronto, Canada

We provide in-prison workshops that focus on small business planning, marketing, and business money management; they include real-life case-studies, step-by-step guides, hands-on worksheets, and energetic discussions. These workshops are delivered in accessible, plain-language formats and delivered in person at correctional institutions.  

Civic Grit’s programs are designed to equip participants with the skills and mindset needed to launch and sustain small businesses upon reentry to the community.

Workshop on Business Planning 

Guides participants to set specific, time-bound goals; translate life skills into business strengths; map legal and operational risks; practice clear 60-second pitches; manage stress and setbacks constructively; organize ideas into a concise one-page plan; and think like owners by reflecting on first-year milestones.

Workshop on Managing Business Money 

Organized around the easily approachable “Four Financial Buckets” framework: startup expenses, capitalization, financial planning (including break-even analysis), and financial reporting. Participants work through cost estimates, realistic funding options, and a simple income-statement to understand what it would take to reach and operate above break-even. We then make it real with basic recordkeeping and compliance.

Workshop on Getting the Word Out to Customers

This is a practical and action-oriented workshop. Each participant defines their business, describes their ideal customer, plans a brand campaign using low-cost tools (online and print) , crafts a concise elevator pitch, and learns how to track what works so they can adapt. When participants complete this workshop they have a Marketing Plan for success.

Why do Participants Enjoy Our Workshops So Much?

Civic Grit’s workshops include real-life case-studies, step-by-step guides, hands-on worksheets, and energetic discussions. These workshops are delivered in accessible, plain-language formats and delivered in person at correctional institutions.  Our programs are designed to equip participants with the skills and mindset needed to launch and sustain small businesses upon reentry to the community.

Public Education & Civic Engagement

Civic Grit produces and disseminates public educational materials related to second-chance employment, economic self-sufficiency, and justice reform. These may include newsletters, webinars, community presentations, and articles to raise awareness about the potential of formerly incarcerated individuals and the impact of entrepreneurship on reentry success. 

Support Services

We provide information about services from other providers such as small business mentorship, banking, and legal aid resources where these are valuable to support business startup.