Westwood News Talk – Redemption Room

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Westwood News Talk – Redemption Room

Westwood News Talk is a Detroit-based live-streaming news channel covering urban news and politics around Detroit via the YouTube platform. Redemption Room is a revolutionary new series operated by Westwood News Talk which gives formerly incarcerated individuals the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills and work toward their start-up business goals. The reality series will feature 200 individuals with felony convictions who compete for funding to advance their business visions. Each episode includes four individuals who present their business plans and engage in discussions about the barriers they face to mainstream employment, as well as how the entrepreneurial spirit can ensure financial independence despite these barriers. While the reality show is a competition, all 200 participants ultimately receive support entering the workforce. 50 participants will secure an opportunity to move forward with their business plans, and the remaining 150 participants are placed in corporate jobs with the assistance of the show's hosts. The goal of Redemption Room is to assist individuals who face barriers to employment, but also to help educate the general public about the difficulties of reentering the community after a felony conviction.

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