Pivot Program

The Pivot Program is a non-credit-bearing certificate in business and entrepreneurship created specifically for formerly incarcerated individuals. Designed and delivered by Georgetown faculty, the Pivot Program is a one-year transition and re-entry program centered on a blend of academic work and supported employment.

Across the United States, more than 7 million Americans are currently under some form of correctional control – including incarceration, parole, and probation – and 1 in 4 adults has a criminal record. In the District of Columbia alone, roughly 5,000 individuals are released from prison or jail every year, and less than half of them find sustainable employment. This perpetuates a cycle of crime and incarceration, with devastating effects on families, communities, and the broader economy.

The Pivot Program seeks to break that cycle and recapture this untapped human capital by supporting a set of people who have previously made mistakes, served their time, and are committed to becoming successful leaders and role models in their communities. Our approach is based on the premise that a combination of higher education and employment – together with the social, emotional, and intellectual development that takes place in a university environment – will succeed in preparing returning citizens for positions as both entrepreneurial leaders or productive employees.

The Pivot Program represents a collaboration between Georgetown’s Prisons and Justice Initiative, the McDonough School of Business, and Georgetown College with support from the D.C. Department of Employment Services.

Visit the Pivot Program website (new window) for more information.