Black Entrepreneur, Born in Jail and Later Incarcerated Himself at 17, Now Owns a Company Worth $20M

Nationwide — Born in prison because his mother was incarcerated at the time of his birth, Lorenzo Lewis overcame tremendous adversity to achieve success. Despite these early challenges, he grew up to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Webster University. Now a two-time TEDx speaker, Lorenzo continues to break barriers in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, using his story as a source of inspiration for others.

Recently, Lorenzo transitioned from his role as Founder-In-Residence of The Confess Project of America (TCPA) to fully focus on expanding TCP Ventures, his for-profit business, while maintaining a commitment to mental health and social impact. He now serves as a board emeritus member for both TCPA and the nonprofit L&J Empowerment.

In his new role, Lorenzo will concentrate on growing two innovative brands—Confess Health and Confess Schools—by bringing TCPA’s proven curriculum to hospitals and schools across the U.S. This program will train individuals to become mental health advocates, equipping them with the tools to foster meaningful conversations about emotional well-being and address critical issues like opioid addiction.

Simultaneously, Lorenzo is focused on driving growth and sustainability within the corporate arm, The Lewis Family of Businesses, with an emphasis on family-owned ventures.

During his time at TCPA, the organization achieved remarkable milestones in community impact and advocacy. Now, as the for-profit side of the business reaches a pivotal growth stage, Lorenzo sees an incredible opportunity to scale operations and drive innovation in new sectors.

He is proud to share that his wife, Jordon Lewis, has been appointed as TCPA’s new CEO—the organization’s first female leader—ensuring the mission continues to thrive.

A key turning point for TCP Ventures was securing $150K in funding through the Signal Fund, which will help the company reach 120 million more people through mental health advocacy in hospitals, schools, and beyond. TCPA’s $20M valuation further underscores the immense potential for growth, proving the strength of the brand and programs.

Lorenzo Lewis expresses deep gratitude to everyone who has supported TCPA’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in underrepresented communities. He looks forward to this next phase and remains energized to build on their success—creating new opportunities to combine social impact with business growth.

For more details about Lorenzo Lewis, visit his official website at LorenzoPLewis.com

Also, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram.