Re-Enter, Rebuild, & Rise: Entrepreneurship Panel

You’re invited! Join us for this transformative panel discussion and networking event dedicated to inspiring and connecting formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals on their journey toward academic success, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and personal growth. Hear the panelists’ inspiring stories of using an entrepreneurial mindset and skills to overcome the challenges of society re-entry and finding and maintaining stable employment to thrive in their chosen fields. This welcoming community-building opportunity will empower you to imagine and build a brighter future while fostering a supportive network that celebrates your resilience and determination.

Panelist Bios

TRAVIS SLAUTERBECK

Travis is a licensed barber working at Magnolia Barber Shop, providing services for the local Goleta and Santa Barbara communities. Travis takes pride in his work which consists of new-era fades, tapers, designs, beard trims, and lineups in addition to old traditional trims and regular haircuts. Travis grew up in Santa Barbara and picked up his first set of clippers at age 12. Now at age 42 he still has his passion for cutting hair and making people feel good about themselves. You can book an appointment on Vagaro under Travis Slauterbeck@magnoliabarbershop

BRENDA BROWN

Brenda Brown is a Drug & Alcohol Counselor, certified Equine Specialist, and founder and director of the Women’s Sober Living community and the Back to Basics Equine-Assisted Recovery. The Women’s Sober Living community is a 15-bed facility that offers a safe and tranquil structured women-only sober living environment in downtown Santa Barbara. There, women support one another in creating a new life together filled with hope. Back to Basics Equine-Assisted Recovery is a separate 3-acre horse ranch home to six horses where women are empowered to share their healing experiences and hold each other accountable for their sobriety, integrity, and growth in recovery. As sisters in recovery, together they find a life filled with new possibilities and a sense of purpose. Brenda says, “Back to Basics fulfills my lifelong dream of helping my community through a 12-step program, and our equine-assisted therapy not only helps our women but also many local treatment centers, veterans, young women being trafficked, autism, PTSD, and trauma-impacted individuals.” Website: https://backtobasicsequineassistedrecovery.com/sober-living/

ALBERTO LULE

Alberto Lule is a formerly incarcerated artist. Alberto uses readymades, mixed media installations, video, performance, and tools used by agencies of authority to examine and critique the prison industrial complex in the United States, particularly the California carceral state. Using his own experiences, he aims to tie the prison industrial complex to other American political issues such as immigration, homelessness, drug addiction, and mental health. Lule creates artworks that explore institutional roles as gatekeepers of knowledge, authorities of culture, administrators of discipline, and executors of punishment. He is the recipient of the Public Impact Fellowship, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, UC Irvine, 2022-2023. The 2020 Kay Nielsen Memorial Drawing Award, The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. Alberto received a BA in Art from The University of California Los Angeles and is pursuing his MFA from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine. www.albertolule.com

Catering by Reyes Tacos