Military.com | By Nick Mordowanec | Published October 31, 2025 Barry Mattson represented his country in the U.S. Air Force and Army. Since his military days, he’s used his experience in community building and humanitarian efforts to pay it forward to the next generation of aspiring business owners and job seekers. Mattson’s leadership as part […]

Labor Day was created to honor the dignity of work. It’s a day that reminds us the economy isn’t powered by politicians or algorithms. It’s powered by people who get up every day and do the jobs that keep America moving. That makes this a good time to pause and think about the current narrative: […]

Operation Jump Start is being hosted by the United Service Organizations (USO), supported by the Brian Hamilton Foundation, on September 29 and 30 to bring together military service members and their families to help them prepare for the transition to civilian life following their service to the nation. All active duty, National Guard members, and […]

America has always been a nation powered by small businesses—local merchants, family-run service businesses, independent companies, restaurants, dry cleaners, and home service businesses. Such companies once formed the backbone of middle-class opportunity, offering a path to economic independence and intergenerational mobility. Entrepreneurship drove our rise, especially among immigrant communities, where opening a storefront or service […]

Last week, members of Congress once again introduced a bipartisan resolution declaring April “Second Chance Month” in the U.S. A worthy cause, Second Chance Month is a time to recognize the challenges faced by people with criminal records and to advocate for meaningful reform. Although the idea of a “second chance” is celebrated, the reality is that […]

Last week, Elon Musk made a scene at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) by waving a chainsaw onstage, making reference to the need to cut federal expenses. “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” he said. His point was simply that there are serious cuts that need to be made in federal spending. Who could […]

Lawrence Carpenter says he grew up poor and dreaming of a better life. By age 12, he was following the only example he saw in his North Carolina neighborhood of how to achieve this dream: selling drugs. By age 17, he was incarcerated. After serving six years in prison, he was back on the streets […]

The anniversary of the groundbreaking program falls on Second Chance Month. RALEIGH, NC, March 22, 2022 – April marks the 30 year anniversary of the founding of Inmates to Entrepreneurs, a now-global program started by entrepreneur Brian Hamilton that provides free entrepreneurship training for people with criminal records. Hamilton started the program in April 1992 […]

Brian Hamilton founded Inmates to Entrepreneurs, which teaches people coming out of the prison system how to start and grow their own businesses.