Indigenous Peoples Month Entrepreneur Highlight | Sean Rayland-Boubar

Summary

Sean Rayland Bubbar, founder of Red Rebel Armor, addresses the high rates of Indigenous incarceration, emphasizing the transformative power of employment in reducing recidivism. His streetwear brand aims to create job opportunities for Indigenous individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Sean shares how the business, supported by Future, has expanded its operations and workforce, while also offering resources to help those recently released from prison. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace failure as a pathway to success, highlighting the importance of relationships and kinship in business.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Indigenous populations make up a significant percentage of the prison population, highlighting systemic issues in incarceration rates.
• 💼 Employment is identified as a crucial solution to reduce recidivism, providing basic needs and a sense of self-worth.
• 🤝 The importance of role models for young Indigenous individuals is emphasized, focusing on positive influences for the next generation.
• 🛠️ Red Rebel Armor is an Indigenous streetwear brand with a social mission to create job opportunities for marginalized individuals.
• 🚀 Support from organizations like Future has enabled the growth of Red Rebel Armor, enhancing marketing and operational capacity.
• 👥 New hires and ongoing training are integral to building a strong team and increasing production capabilities.
• 🌟 Personal stories illustrate the transformative impact of employment, with individuals expressing gratitude for the opportunities provided.
• 📈 The business approach goes beyond profits, emphasizing people, the planet, and community relationships.
• 💡 Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs includes taking risks, learning from failures, and engaging with the market for real feedback.
• 🏆 The sense of belonging and community within the workplace fosters a supportive environment for those with challenging backgrounds.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker in the transcript?

The speaker focuses on reducing recidivism among indigenous populations by creating employment opportunities through their organization, Red Rebel Armor.

How does the speaker describe the demographics of inmates in the Prairie Province?

The speaker mentions that 80 percent of inmates in the jails are indigenous, while indigenous people represent only 5 percent of the population.

What role does employment play in the speaker's solution to recidivism?

Employment is seen as a key solution because it provides basic needs, a sense of self-worth, and helps individuals avoid returning to prison.

What type of business is Red Rebel Armor?

Red Rebel Armor is an indigenous streetwear brand with a social mission to reduce recidivism by providing job opportunities for indigenous individuals.

What kind of support did the speaker receive to grow their business?

The speaker received support from Future, which helped kickstart their business, increase marketing efforts, and scale operations.

What changes has the organization undergone as it has scaled?

As the organization has scaled, they have acquired new machines, increased inventory, and hired and trained new employees.

How does the speaker perceive the impact of working at Red Rebel Armor?

The speaker feels that working at Red Rebel Armor has significantly improved their outlook on life and provided a sense of belonging.

What is the speaker's perspective on the relationship between business and community?

The speaker believes that business should focus on people and relationships, not just profits, emphasizing kinship and community support.

What advice does the speaker offer to aspiring entrepreneurs?

The speaker advises aspiring entrepreneurs to get started, learn from failures, and seek feedback from the market to find success.

How does the speaker feel about their past and the opportunities provided by Red Rebel Armor?

The speaker reflects that without Red Rebel Armor, they might have ended up back in jail or engaging in previous harmful behaviors, but now they find the rewards of their current path to be lasting and fulfilling.