Reducing Recidivism Through Financial Literacy

Every other Tuesday, HeartBound hosts a horticulture/financial literacy class at the Atlanta Transitional Center. We cook a hearty meal for our 14 or so attendees, play a goofy game called “Juice, Jam, and Jelly,” and then spend an hour teaching. I love these men deeply; most I’ve known for over two years. Because it’s a transitional center, I can bring in my laptop, which makes teaching a lot easier.

That evening in my kitchen, my mind raced through the list of possible topics. I had so much to juggle: a crockpot full of pork shoulder that needed shredding, another crockpot of mac and cheese that needed seasoning, and a lesson that still hadn’t fully coalesced in my mind.

So, I paused and prayed - for guidance, for the eyes to see, the words to say, the ears to hear, and the heart to understand. A prayer I often return to.

For the past year, we’ve focused on the business side of horticulture - how to incorporate a business, create a budget, design a logo. Then it hit me: we’ve talked about how to make money, but never about what to do after you make it.

So that night, I decided to talk about investing.

When I arrived at the Center, the men greeted me warmly, eager to peek into my black warming bag. Much to their delight, I had pulled pork—a rare treat since pork isn’t served in prison. They devoured all 8 pounds.

Once we sat down, I opened the lesson simply:

“Your business has turned a profit of $10,000. What do you do now?”

Their heads tilted. Eyes narrowed. Finally, Larry said, “I don’t know—I’ve never really thought about that.”

I explained: save some, invest the rest. They nodded.

“Okay,” I said, “So how do we do that?”

More silence.

Clearly, we needed to start with the basics. I pulled up ChatGPT on my laptop—a tool that feels like magic to men who’ve lacked access to technology for decades. I explained it’s like having your own personal assistant.

We searched “Best high-yield savings accounts.” A list popped up. We walked through each one—what interest rates mean, what “account minimum” means. We found an account with no minimum and a decent rate, then navigated to the site.

Here’s something I’ve learned about teaching: if you do everything for someone, they won’t retain it. So, staring at the bank’s homepage, I asked, “What do we do next?”

Blank stares.

Then Joe whispered, “Open an account?”

Exactly. We clicked “Open an account” and I kept asking, “What next?” We reviewed required documents, discussed pros and cons of online-only banks, and took our time walking through each step.

Then we shifted to investing. Again, we used ChatGPT, this time searching, “Best investment accounts for new investors.” Robinhood came up, the same platform I started with. I shared my experience, along with cautionary tales of risk and reward.

Midway through, something caught my eye. Andy, in the front row, was slumped in his chair. I assumed he was napping—a common occurrence, and one I don’t mind. Sleep doesn’t come easy in prison. If my classroom feels safe enough for rest, I consider that a win.

But then I noticed: he wasn’t asleep. His phone, hidden under his hat, was angled up—recording me and the TV screen.

Andy is in his late 50s, maybe early 60s. A skilled diesel mechanic. He hasn’t been incarcerated long. You’d think that by his age, he’d know how to save and invest. But that night, I saw a man doing everything he could to discreetly record a new lesson—so he could go over it later, without having to admit he didn’t know.

After the lecture, Andy came up to me. He extended a firm handshake and looked me in the eye. “Thank you.”

In that moment, I saw something radiate from him…HOPE. I could almost hear his mind racing, envisioning the possibilities: launching a business, building a future, leaving something better behind for his spouse and children.

I knew in my gut that the odds of this man returning to prison had just dropped. He won’t likely be part of the 75% who reoffend within five years.

God had given me that lesson. May we all have the eyes to see, the words to speak, the ears to listen, and the heart to understand.