{"id":4955,"date":"2023-04-01T00:32:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-01T00:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/?p=4955"},"modified":"2023-03-28T15:41:51","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T15:41:51","slug":"flikshop-app-teaches-tech-entrepreneurship-helps-incarcerated-people-stay-in-touch-with-loved-ones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/?p=4955","title":{"rendered":"Flikshop App Teaches Tech Entrepreneurship, Helps Incarcerated People Stay In Touch With Loved Ones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By\u00a0Alan J. Krawitz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW YORK \u2014  Marcus Bullock made a mistake that could have cost him his future and sent him to prison for life at just 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, while he would end up going to prison for eight years for his involvement in an armed carjacking, his time incarcerated would change the trajectory of his life and many others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock, who credits his mother Sylvia for basically \u201csaving his life in prison,\u201d by sending him a steady stream of postcards and photos daily, launched what he describes as \u201cone of the most impactful apps in the Apple App Store and Android Google Play stores, Flikshop.\u201d 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The app was designed to keep families that are affected by incarceration connected by allowing users to take a photo, add brief text and for only $0.99 Flikshop prints the photo and text on a real postcard and ships it directly to any person, in any jail, prison, youth facility or immigration facility in the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The app is currently approved for use in more than 2,700 correctional facilities across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock says that in addition to helping families stay connected, Flikshop, also known by many as \u201cInstagram for the incarcerated,\u201d acts as a bold force to spotlight the importance of reentry back into society as well as recidivism reduction tools. 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. has among some of the highest rates of recidivism in the world with nearly 44 percent of those released from prison being rearrested within their first year out, according to statistics from the National Institute of Justice. Further, the institute also found that in 2005, about 68 percent of 405,000 people released from prison were arrested for a new crime within three years, and 77 percent were arrested within five years.
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to erase the stigma that comes with incarceration and look forward to impacting outcomes with storytelling and educational tools,\u201d Bullock said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such tools include the Flikshop School of Business<\/u><\/a>, which focuses on entrepreneurship training courses for those interested in technology as well as \u201ccommunity creation,\u201d via the Flikshop Angels<\/u><\/a> project, which allows the children of incarcerated parents to stay connected free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock estimates that more than 140,000 people who are incarcerated are currently using the Flikshop app to stay in touch with loved ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, Bullock\u2019s mother, Sylvia, who now handles community relations for Flikshop, had mixed feelings about the new business in its early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe truth is, when Marcus came home from 8 years of incarceration I wanted him to leave the past in the past,\u201d  she recalls. \u201cI knew the stigma attached to persons who had been incarcerated was vicious, especially for black men. When Flikshop launched, I knew I would have to face the ugly shame and realities of incarceration.\u201d
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, her feelings about facing her son\u2019s realities of incarceration would be overshadowed by the app\u2019s positive mission.  \u201cI did not know or understand that my deepest pain would turn into the most powerful witness of purpose, peace and expressions of love,\u201d she says, adding \u201cFlikshop allowed me to acknowledge my past and experience peace in what happened in my family. I had no idea how much I would actually enjoy my work at Flikshop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Belton, whom Bullock met while in prison, also believes in the power of the app. \u201cFlikshop, is, and has become, a very critical tool, in keeping families connected to their incarcerated love ones, via postcard,\u201d says Belton, who now is a lead coordinator for Flikshop\u2019s School of Business (FSB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing the son of a former educator and having taught my entire incarceration, (GED, introductory college courses, etc.), I truly understand the importance of giving yourself a fighting chance,\u201d Belton says, \u201cthrough furthering the education process and showing individuals, that have never been exposed to what it looks like to build a business, or learn financial, and digital literacy, or to have the opportunity to embark upon a real career in tech.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds, \u201cComing from someone, who has first-hand experience; the component of feeling supported and connected, can literally be the determining factor between life (remaining hopeful through the adversity, by having the tangible evidence of support, i.e. Flikshop postcard), and\/or death (despair, hopelessness, and depression, i.e., no Flikshop or correspondence from outside, friends and family showing indication of support).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FSB graduates include Tim Thomas, who started his research company Fact Law Research with help from FSB and Georgia State University after serving nearly 15 years of incarceration. \u201cFSB really helped me to catch-up on my tech skills,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Gales is also a FSB scholar and son of a deaf parent. Gales, who is fluent in sign language, plans on opening an interpreting agency to help better serve the deaf community. \u201cI have one son\u2026and I want him to be proud of me\u2026so that he knows that what I went through (incarceration), I didn\u2019t let it define me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As someone who has experienced prison firsthand, Bullock has some definite thoughts on how \u201cprison reform\u201d should be tackled. 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among things, he says need fixing include some of the \u201cDraconian\u201d laws that lock people up for very long sentences for comparatively minor or non-violent crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock relates that one of his friends, nicknamed \u201cSpider,\u201d was also in prison, serving a life sentence, when the two men met at age 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think many prisons are based more on the concept of punishment and less on rehabilitation\u2013and that needs to change,\u201d he says, adding that \u201cPrison reform is about real people, real families\u2026I want people who are incarcerated to be treated more fairly with more dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other reforms he favors include adding more classrooms and even libraries to prison facilities to allow people to obtain skills and jobs when they are released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe question needs to be asked,\u201d says Bullock, \u201cthat of the 600,000 people who come out of prison each year, how do we want them to re-enter society and the community?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock wants people to be able to contribute to the community the way he has. Overall, he says reform should \u201chelp people heal once they\u2019re out and help them get past the trauma endured from one bad decision.\u201d
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back on Bullock\u2019s childhood, it\u2019s hard to imagine he would ever be in trouble with the law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In media interviews, Bullock relates that he had dreams of playing basketball professionally and was even an early-stage entrepreneur, selling candy at just 8-years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, he began to run with the wrong crowd around age 13 following a kidnapping by local gang members in his Prince George\u2019s county neighborhood in Maryland that scared him for his safety. He recalls even carrying a gun for self-protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He then began a downward spiral that included both taking and selling drugs and basically leading a double-life of continuing to go to school and play sports while selling drugs and making upwards of $1,000 per week as a 13-year-old!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the pursuit of even more cash, Bullock says he began to steal cars at 14, making around $5,000 in a matter of minutes. He claimed he was stealing about 2 cars every week, while continuing to attend school and church, get good grades, and play sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock would come to see his criminal endeavors as a means to an end. \u201cI wanted to make a million and go to an Ivy League school,\u201d he recalls, saying that he judged the good things he did in school and church as outweighing his crimes. 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Bullock\u2019s world nearly came to an abrupt end in 1996 when he was arrested at age 15 for carjacking and sentenced to eight years in an adult, maximum security prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock\u2019s mother, Sylvia, made good on her promise to write him a letter and send him a picture every day, so he could see \u201cthere\u2019s life after prison.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says the letters and photos \u201csaved his life\u201d in prison and would lead to an important computer class he took while in Brunswick Correctional Center at age 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his release, Bullock\u2019s first job out of prison was at a paint store, which led to his starting a painting contracting company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those experiences would lead Bullock to create FlikShop in 2012, called by many as the \u201cInstagram for the incarcerated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Bullock\u2019s app along with his entrepreneur training program, FSB, has received numerous awards and accolades including being chosen by Tech Stars as one of only ten projects out of 10,000 to receive massive funding as well as being named one of John Legend\u2019s Unlocked Futures business accelerators. 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock is also a member of the Justice Policy Institute\u2019s board of directors and in 2019, he was named one of The Root<\/em> 100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, he also serves as an advisor to the Aspen Institute\u2019s Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund, and he gives frequent inspirational talks to various criminal justice and other organizations, detailing his perseverance and innovation despite numerous obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bullock explains that his ultimate goal of FlikShop is to reduce recidivism by 50 percent by year 2030. 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked why Flikshop is better than traditional mail and packages, Bullock explains that its ease-of-use is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFlikshop is quick to onboard, is user-friendly and less expensive than all the components it would take for traditional mail (ie: time to write\/print photos, cost of envelopes, and postage),\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is also accepted in more facilities than traditional mail, as a result of us working to become an approved 3rd party provider for families within corrections. It is also a great way to create relationships that support employment and community after incarceration.\u201d 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, some major companies including Google, Amazon, Boeing and Delta Air Lines have entered into partnerships with Bullock and Flikshop to help the formerly incarcerated re-acclimate to society by providing workshops on jobs as well as to learn valuable digital literacy skills. 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur returning citizens here in DC are looking for opportunities the moment they get out of jail or prison and there has been a massive gap in tech literacy skills development for years,\u201d Bullock said, following a recent digital literacy workshop. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to change that today!\u201d
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phil Andrews, founder and president of 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, believes the Flikshop app is a positive force in the lives of people who are incarcerated.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt helps someone\u2019s self-esteem to know that people on the outside still care about them even when they\u2019re incarcerated,\u201d says Andrews, a former NYC corrections\u2019 officer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a great concept in many ways because it\u2019s electronic and makes it much easier for corrections staff to vet and get messages to the incarcerated,\u201d noting that all physical mail has to be checked thoroughly as it comes in to any facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting things into perspective, Bullock\u2019s mother, Sylvia, says she knows her son\u2019s work is making a difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy greatest joy is knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of people I will probably never meet. I love our company\u2019s work ethic, diversity, its sense of purpose, and the collaborative team spirit we share. We are Flikshop!!\u201d
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belton, Bullock\u2019s longtime friend, adds, \u201cI\u2019m honored to be in a position, to give back to returning citizens, underserved communities and justice impacted organizations, via the educational\/training tool, (FSB), inspired by the revolution, of the mobile app Flikshop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edited by Virginia Van Zandt<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Published without changes from Zenger News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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