Steven Waldman

Steven Waldman

The Purpose Driven Second Life

posted by swaldman | 9:22am Friday December 5, 2008

goldsmith.jpgAt Rikers Island, a massive prison in New York City, 66% of released prisoners end up coming back after committing a new crime. Jack Goldsmith, a former cosmetic industry executive, heard about this when he was volunteering there.
At age 65, he decided to try to fix this. He created “Getting Out and Staying Out,” a program in which participants sign contracts agreeing to coaching and school upon their release. When they get out they get a coach, clothing, metro cards, an electric alarm clock, an ID card and a brand new resume.
The recidivism rate for those in the program is 10%
Goldsmith just got a Purpose Prize, a $100,000 award sponsored by Civic Ventures for older Americans who have used their wisdom and time to do extraordinary things. Click here to learn about the other winners — Arlene Blum, Jock Brandis, Mark Goldsmith, Joseph James, Michele McRae, and Catalino Tapia — and how to follow your own second life dreams.



Previous Posts

Good Bye
Today is my last day at Beliefnet (which I co-founded in 1999). The swirling emotions: sadness, relief, love, humility, pride, anxiety. But mostly deep, deep gratitude. How many people get to come up with an idea and have rich people invest money to make it a reality? How many people get to create

posted 8:37:24am Nov. 20, 2009 | read full post »

"Steven Waldman Named To Lead Commission Effort on Future of Media In a Changing Technological Landscape" (FCC Press Release)
STEVEN WALDMAN NAMED TO LEAD COMMISSION EFFORT ON FUTURE OF MEDIA IN A CHANGING TECHNOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE FCC chairman Julius Genachowski announced today the appointment of Steven Waldman, a highly respected internet entrepreneur and journalist, to lead an agency-wide initiative to assess the state o

posted 11:46:42am Oct. 29, 2009 | read full post »

My Big News
Dear Readers, This is the most difficult (and surreal) post I've had to write. I'm leaving Beliefnet, the company I co-founded in 1999. In mid November, I'll be stepping down as President and Editor in Chief to lead a project on the future of the media for the Federal Communications Commission, the

posted 1:10:11pm Oct. 28, 2009 | read full post »

"Beliefnet Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief Steps Down to Lead FCC Future of the Media Initiative" (Beliefnet Press Release)
October 28, 2009 BELIEFNET CO-FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPS DOWN TO LEAD FCC FUTURE OF THE MEDIA INITIATIVE New York, NY - October 28, 2009 - Beliefnet, the leading online community for inspiration and faith, announced today that Steven Waldman, co-founder, president and editor-in-chief, will re

posted 1:05:43pm Oct. 28, 2009 | read full post »

Secularizing the Cross (Christian Activists: Be Careful What You Wish For)
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week, in Buono v. Salazar, about whether a white 6 1/2 foot cross can be displayed in a national park as a tribute to World War I soldiers. Though it's depicted as a classic clash of the secular and the religious, it actually illustrates why Christian act

posted 1:15:51pm Oct. 08, 2009 | read full post »

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Comments read comments(3)
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Iris Alantiel

posted December 5, 2008 at 5:29 pm


I think this is a great idea. Some will probably say that we’re rewarding criminals, but we’re not. We’re rewarding people who have paid their debt to society by simply allowing them a chance to get their lives onto a different path. That helps all of us!



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Charles Cosimano

posted December 5, 2008 at 5:45 pm


And I thought the article was going to be about a virtual megachurch in Second Life.



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Hilary Hakkinen

posted September 27, 2010 at 6:07 pm


Rather nice blog you’ve got here. Thank you for it. I like such themes and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon.
Hilary Hakkinen
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