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Former prisoners are making some of Philly’s best pizzerias

For its Detroit-style square pizzas, Philadelphia’s Down North Pizza quickly became a national favorite. Michael Carter, executive chef, stated that the bestsellers change depending on what is featured in the media. He said, “Because The New York Times it’s been The Uptown Vibe.” The shop’s vegetarian pie is laden with julienned bell peppers, sauteed mushrooms and kale. They also use their “norf sauce” tomato sauce which is a secret recipe that’s sweet, spicy, and smoky. This runaway success is based on a mission: To hire ex-inmates and convince other employers to do so. Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, the owner, said that they have more than 60 years of prison time in the kitchen. “We are all living proof of the fact that it is possible to build a business around formerly incarcerated people.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 600,000 people are released from federal and state prisons each year. A total of 9 million people spend time behind bars. Philadelphia has one of the highest incarceration levels in the country. According to the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition, Down North Pizza is a neighborhood that sees 1,000 prisoners return from prison each year.

Carter, like everyone at Down North, spent 12 years in prison starting at age 16. Carter went on to culinary school, and eventually became a successful restaurateur. But Carter credits his time in prison with teaching him about mass production.

The kitchen is the most important job. He said that it’s the most difficult job because it feeds 4,000 people 3x per day. When urging employers to hire prisoners, he now tells his own story. He had to conceal his prison experience when applying for jobs after he was released. He said, “I had to lie.” Finding work can be difficult. Down North Pizza strives to break the cycle of stigma and incarceration by providing just working conditions. First, the starting wage is $15 an hour. Jamar Johnson, the sous chef, said that even though he has a lot of experience in the food industry, his record often meant that he was undervalued. He said, “I did recently work for a company where, although I won’t say the name, the dishwasher made more than I.” Second, offer support. Two apartments are available for staff to rent above the restaurant. People who have been in prison previously struggle to rent housing due to discrimination or lack of references. If there are any issues with their release terms, a pro bono lawyer is available. Parole violations can result in people being remanded in jail even if they have not committed a crime. The staff are a natural support group and employees don’t have to hide their pasts at the office.

Sous chef Myles Jackson said, “I feel like what I’m doing here is like testimony to our story.” He said that the mission has given him purpose. A steady stream of customers walked in and out of the small shop’s front window on Friday night. Many customers claim they came from all over the city to try the food. Keith Wiggins is just around the corner. After seeing the lines, he was drawn in. Wiggins didn’t know anything about the mission but said that it resonates with his heart. His son is currently serving a lengthy sentence in central Pennsylvania prison. Wiggins, who owns a photography business, said, “Who knows, maybe… he’ll come back and get hooked up with some thing like this… Maybe I could take him under mine,” He said that he was happy to see a thriving Black-owned business in his community, that is shining a positive light.

States (US)

Via Teleconference 9:37 A.M. EDT MODERATOR: Thank you to everyone for joining our press call this morning on the release of Mark Frerichs. As a reminder of the ground rules, this call is being held on background, attributable to “senior administration officials,” and the contents are embargoed until the end of the call. For your awareness but not…
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Remarks of President Biden at a Democratic National Committee reception

Huntington Place Convention CenterDetroit, Michigan 3:26 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Michigan Democrats! And I hope some Republicans. Please have a seat if you have one. (Laughs.) Gov, thank you for that introduction. And — but more importantly, thanks for your partnership. If you take a look at the objectives you set out to meet and when…
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Proclamation for National Hispanic Heritage Month 2022

Hispanic heritage holds an indelible place in the heart and soul of our Nation, and National Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us that the American identity is a fabric of diverse traditions and stories woven together. Since the beginning, our country has drawn strength and insights from Hispanic writers, scientists, soldiers, doctors, entrepreneurs,…
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Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call to King Charles III

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with King Charles III to offer his condolences on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The President recalled fondly the Queen’s kindness and hospitality, including when she hosted him and the First Lady at Windsor Castle last June. He also conveyed the great admiration of the American people…
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Today, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spoke with King Charles III to express his condolences for Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. The President recalled fondly Queen Elizabeth II’s kindnesses and hospitality, especially when she hosted him and his wife at Windsor Castle last June. He expressed his admiration for the American people…
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Analysis: Jan. 6 Investigators can learn from Trump’s Cabinet

(CNN)The full extent of a Justice Department investigation has only been made public this week — and is crucial since it could lead to criminal charges against key players in the drama. The full scope of the Justice Department investigation is only now becoming apparent. This is important because it could lead to criminal charges against key actors in the drama. The panel met with Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State. CNN has been told by sources that the committee is in negotiations to interview former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe. However, ex-Attorney general William Barr’s taped testimony was the most damaging. He left the Cabinet just before the January 6 conflagration. The committee met with Mick Mulvaney, former acting chief of staff. He was also out of Washington at the end of Trump’s administration as Northern Ireland envoy. However, he was in touch with senior officials. This week, Marc Short and Greg Jacob, former senior staffers of former Vice President Mike Pence, appeared before the federal grand jury in Washington. CNN’s Katelyn and Evan Perez exclusively reported on Thursday that the Justice Department is gearing up for a legal battle in order to get testimony from former officials on matters that Trump claims may be protected by executive privilege. This aggressive move suggests litigation. It could lead to litigation and possibly even the Supreme Court. But it is also a sign that the Justice Department is intent to fight for testimony from senior former officials on issues that Trump claims are subject to executive privilege. “This tells us that the DOJ has been preparing for battle,” Elie Honig, a CNN legal analyst, said on Thursday’s “The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer”. CNN’s Perez reported the grand jury received significant information from the two ex-aides to Pence. Carrie Cordero, a former Justice Department official and now CNN analyst, stated that the Justice Department’s new legal strategy to counter Trump’s executive privilege claims suggested Jacob and Short had more to share, but did not. EXCLUSIVE: Former White House officials are being forced to testify in court about Trump’s January 6 conversations. “It is an investigative stage and it indicates that the Justice Department is really thinking ahead of time how it would accomplish this,” Cordero stated. It is impossible to see the entire investigation from either side, especially the Justice Department’s more recent version. The focus on ex- Cabinet members and senior White House staffers is a clear sign that investigators are looking into Trump’s actions, moods, and conversations in the aftermath of the 2020 election and the days leading up to the insurrection. The January 6 criminal investigation has not revealed that Trump’s ex-President is being investigated. However, the probe is at a earlier stage than the House select Committee’s probe which paints a devastating picture about Trump’s actions. But Cabinet officials and other aides were present in meetings with Trump during the difficult post-election period. They witnessed and heard events that could have been incriminating or informative for investigators trying to determine the former President’s guilt in attempting to stop the peaceful transfer power to a new administration. They could also be used to determine Trump’s mental state, which is crucial in establishing intent to do wrongdoing. For example, investigators may be interested in determining the direction Trump gave in his scheme to create fake voters to stop the congressional certification. This information could also be useful in any criminal case. In taped testimony, Scalia stated that he had written a memo to Trump in order to request a Cabinet meeting following the insurrection. Scalia, then labor secretary, stated in the document that he wrote a memo to Trump asking for a Cabinet meeting after the insurrection. Talk of the 25th Amendment It didn’t happen because of the complicated procedures required and the fact that the administration was almost finished. Pence declined to start the process. Short said on Thursday that this was a political ploy of Nancy Pelosi, Democrats in Congress, to put pressure to exercise this power. It was never going to happen in our White House. Jan. 6 committee expands interest in possible use of 25th Amendment against Trump with Mnuchin, and other Cabinet interviews. However, both investigations will be interested in the fact that there was even a hint of the 25th Amendment. This gives the vice president and majority of top officers from executive departments the power of informing Congress that the President is unable to discharge his duties. It is becoming clearer by the week that the House panel has one goal: to prove to Americans that Trump is not fit to hold the presidency’s power ever again. Both Bennie Thompson (a Mississippi Democrat) and Liz Cheney (a Wyoming Republican), have voiced alarming details about the wild or lawless behavior of Trump’s former President. Jennifer Rodgers, a former federal prosecutor, said that “CNN Newsroom” on Thursday that you need to prove the target’s mental state when you’re putting together a case. “The 25th Amendment stuff doesn’t really interest me as much as the machinations of who might be for it and who might not. Rodgers stated that they are talking to each other about what they saw and heard President Trump say in the days before January 6. These are people who have very close access to President Trump. These are his Cabinet members he chose and placed there. “A balancing act to some ex-Cabinet MembersThe prospect of being subject to either investigation has been difficult for some former key figures in Trump’s orbit, who have not publicly criticized him. Taped testimony of ex-officials has revealed some important revelations that might have not otherwise been made. For example, the testimony of Pat Cipollone (former White House counsel) who painted a fraught picture about the chaos inside the White House during the uprising. The January 6 committee intends sharing 20 transcripts with Justice Department. It is one thing for Mulvaney and other former officials to testify. Others have to balance. For example, Pompeo clearly has aspirations to become president and would not be reluctant to offend Trump’s political base. The former secretary of state and Kansas congressman was split between his obligation to testify before the House committee and his desire to show conservative voters that the committee is a political forum. He said, “As I did when I was serving America, I am happy for things to be fair, transparent, and deliver positive outcomes to the American people.” “I want to ensure that the American people are fully informed about the events in the Trump administration. “Pompeo’s comment opened up the possibility that he could testify while still arguing with Trump supporters that he had defended Trump. It’s a delicate dance many of Trump’s former Cabinet members may soon be able to perform.