‘Everyone’ is watching: New NC reentry project will train tech entrepreneurs in Charlotte

Shaheedah Ross Jackson grew up in a family of business owners.

Her mother owned a daycare, one aunt owned a hair salon and another owned a catering business. Both her uncle and stepfather owned photography businesses. She saw how businesses ran nearly every day.

Years later, Ross Jackson found herself serving a 17-year prison sentence after writing stolen checks for groceries and clothing. As she finished her sentence in 2022 living in transitional housing, she began to take after her family and work on a business idea of her own: vending Italian ice .

At the same time that she was ordering supplies and creating a business plan, she got the chance to apply to a unconventional reentry program — one that helps those impacted by the justice system do more than find temporary jobs.

Charlotte nonprofit City Startup Labs started its ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program in 2018 to provide training for people reentering their communities after finishing sentences in prison, for probation or community service. Ross Jackson thought the program would give her an “extra boost” and help offset costs.

“But what I ended up learning was more than just running a business,” she said.

She learned how to build a sustainable career to support herself and her family.

Now, the program is expanding. Earlier this month, City Startup Labs received a $400,000 grant from the N.C. Office of Digital Equity and Literacy to create an affordable laptop and phone repair business.

At City Startup Labs’ Reconnex, people who are reentering the community will train and work as repair technicians in partnership with Omaha-based company iFixAmerica. The technicians will co-own the business with City StartupLabs.

It’s the first business of its kind in the mobile device repair industry and catching the attention of major tech companies, said iFixAmerica president Jason DeWater.

“Everyone is going to be watching this launch,” he said.

How tech repair business will work

For Ross Jackson, reentering her community was about redefining herself and building a sustainable future — something typical programs couldn’t completely help with. Those programs only provide for immediate needs, including housing, food, clothes and, of course, employment.

But the jobs immediately available for returning community members often can’t support an individual, much less a family, City Startup Labs founder Henry Rock told The Charlotte Observer. And it’s difficult for the same people to start a business.

That’s where Reconnex comes in: a solution that provides a job now and builds something more substantial later. Rock said more employers are looking for people with problem-solving and leadership skills, which ReConnex will build through tech repair training. The technician team’s co-ownership of ReConnex gives them a chance to be entrepreneurs in an environment that’s less risky than going it alone.

“I’ve been calling this work 21st century workforce development,” he said.

The City Startup Labs reentry program sets up those returning to their communities with an entrepreneurial mindset and the chance to build a legacy for their families and communities, Ross Jackson said.

Many formerly incarcerated people struggle with the shame and guilt of returning to their communities, she said, but the reentry program helped her realize she deserves success after serving time.

Tech services in low-income communities

Beyond providing jobs and creating entrepreneurs, Reconnex will also give a low-income community access to tech repair services.

ReConnex’s brick and mortar location will open in a to-be-determined underserved area in Charlotte.

“These are areas that have experienced neglect, experienced harm, in one form of fashion and are in need of reconciliation,” Rock said. “Now, on the other hand, you have folks that are returning home, that have a lot of productivity, ingenuity, drive, determination, you name it. And they are looking to have trust restored.”

DeWater, iFixAmerica’s president, said he’s seen positive results from opening an affordable repair store in one of Omaha’s economically disadvantaged areas.

“It’s becoming a really great community service, bridging that digital divide,” DeWater said. “It’s really impactful, and it’s something where not only are you bringing tech skills to that community, but you’re also providing those services that come right along with it.”

The average cost for laptop repair is between $50 and $100 per hour, according to Yelp. Phone repair can be pricey , too, with screen repair costs up to $300 and water damage repair costs up to $400, according to Cell Phone Hospital. Meanwhile, with the state minimum wage being only $7.25, days of wages are being used for repairs instead of living expenses.

Ross Jackson said having an affordable tech repair store in one of Charlotte’s low income communities will especially benefit the young children and older adults in the community in need of assistance.

DeWater said while ReConnex is a pilot project in Charlotte, it’s also a pilot for the whole digital tech repair industry.

“What I believe is going to happen is you’re going to see the entire industry come together around Charlotte to not only see and observe and learn, but also pitch in and help where they feel they could serve us to help make this thing a success,” he said.