Stories like Candice Baughman’s highlight the powerful impact of lived experience, service, and second chances. Baughman is the founder and CEO of Ed 4 Empowerment, a company that supports reentry-centered non-profit organizations and state agencies in building meaningful programs for individuals impacted by the justice system. She’s also served as a coach and mentor to the Defy Ventures program, which helps incarcerated participants prepare for reentry by seeing themselves through an entrepreneurial lens.
Once incarcerated herself, Baughman talks about how she is using her personal journey to help others navigate reentry and build new paths forward.
What made you want to serve as a career coach to incarcerated individuals?
I first learned about Defy Ventures through my network in reentry and prison education. What drew me in was their focus on transformation through entrepreneurship and community support. Having lived experience myself, I know the power of someone believing in your potential instead of just your past. Serving with Defy felt like a natural extension of my own journey, using education, lived experience, and peer mentoring to break cycles of incarceration.
What was it like returning to WCCW after reentry? What was it like to be able to use your lived experience to coach folks on the inside?
Returning to WCCW was both emotional and empowering. Walking back through those gates after my release, not as an incarcerated woman but as someone who has built a new life, carried so much weight. But it was also healing. Being able to coach women on the inside using my own story showed them that reentry is possible, that transformation is real, and that they are not defined forever by their sentences. It gave purpose to some of the most difficult years of my life.
What motivated you to pursue a business degree and start your own business?
When I came home, I knew that education would be the key to rebuilding my life. I earned my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and community services, and later pursued my MBA at Adams State University, where I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA. Business felt like the right path because I wanted the tools not only to rebuild my own future but also to create opportunities for others. Ed 4 Empowerment was born out of that desire, using education and reentry support to help people thrive.
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Ed 4 Empowerment grew from my lived experience and from the gaps I saw firsthand in reentry support. Education saved my life. But I also knew that academic pathways alone weren’t enough; people need wraparound support, mentoring, and a sense of belonging when they return to the community. I envisioned Ed 4 Empowerment as a space where justice-impacted people could build confidence, gain practical skills, and experience holistic reentry services that honor their dignity.
Defy Ventures teaches people to redirect the skills that may have led to their incarceration into strengths. What skills from your past have helped you in your work today?
Before prison, I already had determination, creativity, and resilience; it just wasn’t always directed in the right ways. Inside, I realized that the same hustle and resourcefulness that helped me survive could be redirected toward education and leadership. Today, those same qualities help me run a business, lead partnerships, and advocate at the policy level. What changed wasn’t my drive, but the purpose behind it.
Looking back at your own reentry journey, was there a moment, person, or experience that changed how you saw your future?
Yes, a turning point came after my father’s sudden death and the realization of how much I was losing to addiction and incarceration. In prison, I began pursuing education, and mentors stepped into my life who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. Those moments of encouragement helped me see that my story wasn’t over – that I could choose differently and build something meaningful when I came home.
What are some of the obstacles you faced starting your own business, and how did you overcome them?
Starting Ed 4 Empowerment was intimidating, especially as a justice-impacted woman entering spaces where I didn’t always see people like me. Funding, credibility, and navigating systems were all obstacles. What boosted my confidence was remembering why I was doing this work. Every time I mentored someone coming home, every time I saw the spark of possibility in a student’s eyes, it reaffirmed my path. I also leaned on my education and my network for guidance. Those supports reminded me I wasn’t building alone.
What do you love best about serving justice-involved people? What makes you want to keep doing this work every day?
What I love most is watching transformation happen in real time. Seeing someone walk into a workshop feeling unsure of themselves and leave with confidence in their voice, that’s everything. The most meaningful part is building communities of belonging where people feel seen and valued. What keeps me going every day is knowing that our work doesn’t just impact individuals; it strengthens families, neighborhoods, and systems.
What advice do you have for employers who want to hire justice-involved individuals but aren’t sure where to start?
Approach this with openness and preparation. Justice-impacted people often bring loyalty, determination, and unique problem-solving skills. If you’ve never hired someone with a record, start with education, connect with reentry organizations, learn best practices, and create a supportive onboarding process. Understand that second chances don’t just benefit individuals; they benefit businesses and communities by expanding the talent pool and reducing recidivism.
What advice would you give to people returning home who face barriers like stigma, employment, and housing?
Don’t let the stigma define you. Lead with your strengths, your skills, and your story of transformation. Be honest but also highlight the resilience and adaptability you’ve gained. Build networks, mentors, peers, and community organizations that will advocate for you. And most importantly, believe in your worth, even when others don’t see it yet.
About Global Volunteer Month
Global Volunteer Month, observed each April, is a time to honor and celebrate volunteers worldwide while encouraging volunteering in communities everywhere.
Interested in volunteering with Defy Ventures? Visit their website to learn about their in-prison and community-based volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Opportunities with DOC
DOC has volunteer opportunities with facilities, field offices, and community partnership programs all over the state. Last year, 1,683 volunteers gave more than 46,000 hours of service, using their experience and talents to enrich the lives of justice-involved individuals. Visit DOC’s volunteer page to learn about volunteer opportunities. For questions or if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, email DOCVolunteerProgram@doc.wa.gov to get started.
About Second Chance Month:
DOC joins justice organizations across the country in celebrating the importance of helping individuals, communities, and agencies appreciate their role in supporting the safe and successful reentry of millions of people returning from incarceration each year. The observance aims to inform and highlight the many opportunities for state, local, and tribal governments, and community-based service providers to build meaningful second chances for our returning community members. This is a time for us to encourage and embrace the possibility of growth and change and reflect on the need to empower people with meaningful opportunities for success – both during incarceration and after reentry. Learn more about DOC’s reentry programs and initiatives.