We Ready Right Now
Led by people who lived it.
Training leaders who will change it.
Free To Lead is a national movement building political power by recruiting, training, and supporting formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted leaders to run for office, lead organizations, and transform communities.
More than 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal record.
This means…
Millions of justice-impacted families
face barriers to housing, employment, voting, volunteering, and public service.
Too many people with lived experience are excluded from leadership despite having the knowledge needed to improve our communities.
Free To Lead exists to change that.
Our Leadership Model
We don't just develop leaders—we invest in people who have already demonstrated resilience, courage, and a commitment to their communities. Through training, mentorship, and a nationwide network of support, we help justice-impacted leaders turn lived experience into lasting civic impact.
Recruit
We identify emerging leaders through grassroots organizations, reentry networks, and communities across the country already making a difference in their communities.
Train
We provide civic leadership, campaign skills, community advocacy, fundraising, public policy, personal resilience, and communications training.
Support
We build a lifelong network through long-term mentorship, peer support connections, and expanding the Redemption Caucus.
Meet the Founders
Our organization is led by people who have navigated the systems they're working to improve. We believe lived experience is expertise, and communities deserve leaders who understand both the challenges and the solutions firsthand.
Unlike traditional leadership programs, Free To Lead is led by people with firsthand experience navigating the criminal legal system. Our founders have turned lived experience into legislative leadership, legal advocacy, and community change, proving that leadership is strengthened—not diminished—by overcoming adversity.