Ed Kressy carries a message of hope for people overcoming addiction, criminal histories, and mental health challenges. Since 2015, he's been part of Defy Ventures, volunteering in Pelican Bay State Prison, the only supermax state prison in California, as a member of the Pelican Bay Volunteer Alliance (PBVA). Both Defy Ventures and the PBVA are nonprofits that train currently and formerly incarcerated persons in transformational skills related to entrepreneurism, employment, and personal development. Ed continues to support both organizations by volunteering inside prisons, attending monthly business coaching and community-building events, and advocating for the organizations.
Ed believes it's always worth it to give someone--including yourself--a second chance. Even from the depths of addiction, psychosis, and criminal activity, it is possible to transform into a person who makes positive contributions to society. His work has been published in The Washington Post, Vox, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Ed Kressy lives in San Francisco, CA.