Company owner overcomes past jail time, now operates flourishing company

Marquis McKenzie, 30, reported he’s living evidence that anyone can overcome past faults and that next chances are real.

The father of three is now a prosperous business owner and nonprofit founder, who also advocates for returning citizens who once manufactured errors like he did.

McKenzie was arrested at 15-yrs-aged and invested two many years at the rear of bars for armed robbery.  He informed News 6 he’s not letting his conviction override his enthusiasm. He explained he needs his story to be motivation for his have children, and also for teenagers and juvenile offenders.

“I feel all of my actions are ordained by God, and I think I had to go by this circumstance to be capable to be a information to the current folks likely by way of the problem that I did,” McKenzie claimed.

He’s at the moment the chapter education and development manager for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) under the leadership of Desmond Meade.

Information 6 has featured Meade a number of occasions on his assist for Modification 4 and his organization’s accomplishment in spending off fines and fees for 1000’s of convicted felons so they could legally vote in Florida.

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“I enjoy Desmond’s leadership. Ever given that day 1, he’s generally advised me to trust the method,” explained McKenzie, who also invested time in Tallahassee in assistance of voting legal rights for returning citizens.  “Desmond has been a huge terrific leader, hardly ever led me wrong and I motivate him to continue to be inspired due to the fact he keeps me inspired as properly.”

Mckenzie advised Information 6 he finds satisfaction in serving to returning citizens bounce again and improved fully grasp their rights.

“I enjoy the grassroots and I sense so lots of people in our community have been lied to, mistreated, and we have to get the community’s have confidence in,” he claimed. “The only way to do that is to be on the ground.  So, I wished this yr to be strictly about getting appropriate there on the ground in our communities, and this placement lets me to do that.”.

He travels the state consistently, building partnerships through his FRRC part while also connecting with re-entry coordinators. He also speaks regularly with juvenile offenders who are incarcerated.

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“With just getting at a place to be ready to sit at the table once when I was the a single producing all the troubles, but to have a seat at the table and be capable to advocate for other individuals, I worth that,” McKenzie stated.  “I try out to teach them about their voting legal rights, how crucial voting is.”

McKenzie also motivates young people through his nonprofit termed Core. The aim is to enable them find work and not go back again to jail. It also geared in direction of instructing entrepreneurship to at-risk youth.

“Think just before you do just about anything. Due to the fact occasionally you may possibly not have a second prospect to appear back again to redeem by yourself, and the penalties can occasionally price you your existence and freedom,” McKenzie reported.

When McKenzie is not advocating for juvenile offenders or helping returning citizens get back on their toes, he’s operating his enterprise known as Dirt Master, a business and household cleansing business.  He reported his a few youngsters, who also get the job done with him, are his inspiration to maintain going everyday.

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“I drive them a great deal, but to demonstrate them that occasionally persons are not heading to give you all those possibilities right until they see you’re prepared for it,” McKenzie mentioned.  “I want them to be men and women people, regardless of your race. I want them to know that you have to treat all people pretty.”

If you’d like to discover more about McKenzie’s non-profit or his cleaning small business, you can pay a visit to www.TheDirtMasters.com or connect with 407-406-9640.

To examine far more about the FRRC, visit https://floridarrc.com/