He grew up on the outskirts of Washington DC, where murders were common. Everywhere there was violence at gunpoint. Drug addiction and poverty were part of the lifestyle of the people around him. By the time he turned 16, he had to take part in the burial process of five of his friends. And in 17 years he was sent behind bars. But what happened after that is very extraordinary and unprecedented.
Teenagers busy with books Chris wilson Had to become a criminal. But he never let go of his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Today he is a social entrepreneur, as well as a storyteller, artist, advocate for social justice and a writer.
Chris grew up in a violent and brutal environment. To visit his grandfather, he had to go through many scattered corpses on the way. His mother used to resemble a policeman who raped and beat him. For this reason his mother went into depression. The policeman would follow his family and often threatened. Fearing that, Chris started keeping a pistol with him in his teens.
One night he was coming back to his house. On the way two people started intimidating them. He took out a pistol to carry with him to protect himself. One person died there by gunfire. This moment changed the pattern of his life. The same night his father was also brutally murdered in front of his brother.
At the age of 17, Chris was proved guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Family and friends turned their backs on him. But there was something inside this young man that was incredible.
“I knew that I am a good person at heart. I have decided and I will prove everyone wrong. I went to my cell and stayed there for three days and then I made my master plan. “
Chris always remembers the things his grandfather once said to him, “Promise me you will transform your life. You can do it Promise me, you will try. ” Chris decided to become a superior person.
It was during that isolation that he not only decided to bring a new twist in his life but also decided to make a difference in the lives of those who have faced obstacles in his life. He used to sit in the dim light of his cell and write the questions which he now calls the master plan. What do i want to be like? What will this person look like? What work will this person complete? What will people say about that? These were the questions he often asked himself.
“Everybody used to think that I had become mad. But I believed that it was the master plan that could liberate me. “
He earned a high school diploma and other assistant degrees only while Chris was in captivity. He started a book club and a new business, learning to read and write four languages.
His fellow prisoner Stephen Edwards, who dreamed of building a software company, became his best friend. Although both were sentenced to life imprisonment, they did not give up their dreams and did everything to make it real.
The pair of these two used to spend their time learning something. He gathered his resources to solicit Wall Street General and popular science magazines and business news. Stephen prepared his basic résumé in the prison’s computer lab and began looking for work opportunities. Together, they started the business of photography. They started selling pictures of prison inmates to their loved ones. By the third year, they had made up to $ 40,000, which continued to grow.
When Chris’ judge Cathy Certet was informed of his achievements, he decided to reconsider his life imprisonment decision and give him a second chance. Kathy said, “Your achievements are not very surprising. You have put some very ambitious things in this plan. I’ll monitor you. ”
Chris’s sentence was commuted after 16 years and he became eligible to be released from captivity. And finally after spending half of his life in jail, he was freed from the jail. Chris had nothing after coming out. They were homeless. He used to sleep on his friend’s couch. Despite all this, he went to the University of Baltimore to complete the master plan, and to his surprise there was no stopping him when he passed the admission test to graduate from there.
After passing graduation, Chris received a $ 42,000 job offer and only got a raise after 30 days. And seven months later he was made director.
Chris’ dream of becoming an entrepreneur was not undermined. By saving money from his job, he laid the foundation of the House of the Vinci. It was a furniture renovation and home decor business. A few months later he started another business, Barclays Investment Corporation, a contracting company.
Much of his time is spent advocating reforms in criminal justice and creating economic opportunities by his company for the disadvantaged. “Barclays Investment Corporation is not a non-profit company, our purpose is to make money, but our most important objective here is to keep the people of Baltimore working for people who have gone through circumstances that make it difficult for them to get jobs, such as incarceration Punished, under-trained and novice. ”
Chris twice received an invitation from the White House due to the effects he had on society. His contributions to his company and Strong City Baltimore have helped provide employment to 230 people. He believes that 60 per cent of the people are out of jail just like him. He is working on a book and is continuously growing his business.
Chris’ friend Stephen was also released from prison in 2014. He founded the software company. They both still talk everyday.
Chris’s story is an outstanding example of character strength and tenacity. It shows the extent to which one can go to fulfill their dreams. His story seems like a fictional tale but displays leadership qualities, human relationships and entrepreneurship. His message to all is, “Don’t let your pride stop you from getting help.” You do not have the solution to all things. You can’t do everything yourself. So don’t hesitate to ask for help. ”