‘Dream again’: Formerly incarcerated man turned entrepreneur delivers message of hope to Henrico inmates

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A man who spent a decade behind bars in Virginia has turned that struggle into purpose, becoming an entrepreneur using an innovative design he crafted while incarcerated.

In February, the formerly incarcerated David Baldwin visited Henrico County Jail East and Henrico County Jail West, hoping to inspire those currently serving time not to give up on the idea of success.

Baldwin was incarcerated for 10 years during his youth. He was ultimately released from a Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facility in December 2016.

Since then, Baldwin has become an entrepreneur and U.S. patent holder.

"I didn't just do time -- I used time, when I was in there," Baldwin said. "The utility patent that I have, I created while I was in prison."

Formerly incarcerated David Baldwin showcasing his patented utility design. (Photo: Henrico County Sheriff's Office)

Formerly incarcerated David Baldwin showcasing his patented utility design. (Photo: Henrico County Sheriff's Office)

Baldwin describes his design as a "fold-down adaptive storage unit system," otherwise known as a "roo pocket." The pouch is meant to serve as a wearable, easy-access storage solution -- one that could particularly benefit healthcare workers and tradespeople, among others.

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Henrico County Sheriff Alisa Gregory said that stories like Baldwin's are so important, as they inspire hope.

"A lot of our speakers give that simple message: 'Here I am, no different than you -- in some cases, I was worse off than you are -- and I did it. I made it. I turned it around,'" she said. "And from that, we see folks that are reenergized, and refocused on creating a plan, and getting out there and having the hope that they will be successful. All hope is not lost -- you can turn it around."

Baldwin credits his path to entrepreneurial success, in part, to Project Give Back to Community. It's a local nonprofit that provides support to incarcerated persons -- both while they are in prison and after their release.

Formerly incarcerated David Baldwin speaking at a Henrico County jail. (Photo: Henrico County Sheriff's Office)

Formerly incarcerated David Baldwin speaking at a Henrico County jail. (Photo: Henrico County Sheriff's Office)

Formerly incarcerated David Baldwin showcasing his patented utility design. (Photo: Henrico County Sheriff's Office)

Formerly incarcerated David Baldwin showcasing his patented utility design. (Photo: Henrico County Sheriff's Office)

He said that the nonprofit's co-founder, Clovia Lawrence, has been like a "mother" to him ever since they met.

"When you've been incarcerated, rarely do you think about your skill set," Lawrence said. "Rarely do you dream. We want to give all persons an opportunity to dream again."

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Gregory emphasized that the impact community organizations like Project Give Back to Community have on post-release outcomes cannot be understated.

"We can't do it all inside of the correctional setting,” she said. “It takes these types of partners coming in and helping us, helping these folks navigate their way back into the community successfully."