From Dope Dealers to Hope Dealers: The Business of Breaking Cycles

Mar 19

When I launched Unlocked Potential, I knew I wanted this podcast to be about more than just leadership tips or startup hacks.

This show is about transformation — of teams, of workplaces, and of lives.

For Episode 2, I sat down with Michael Allen, co-founder of Together Chicago, to talk about something a lot of leaders avoid: gun violence, poverty, and how to actually make a difference beyond the boardroom.

Michael has spent years on the ground — talking to shooters, survivors, and the systems around them — to understand what really drives violence and what can stop it.

This conversation blew me away. Here’s what stood out.

🔁 Cycles Don’t Break Themselves

We tend to look at violence as a “crime problem.” But Michael helped me reframe it as a lack of options problem.

If the only people making money in your neighborhood are dealers, that becomes the blueprint. That’s your economy. That’s your network.

But when you introduce mentorship, job opportunities, financial literacy, and exposure to new paths — that cycle starts to crack.

You don’t just pull people off the street. You give them somewhere better to go.

💸 Hope Is a Better Currency Than Hustle

Michael said something that stuck with me:

“Hope isn’t just about feeling good. It’s about delaying gratification because you believe something better is coming.”

In communities where survival is day-to-day, long-term thinking feels like a luxury. But jobs, steady income, and trusted relationships start to shift that mindset.

When people see a future, they start investing in it.

That’s when violence drops. That’s when transformation sticks.

🛠️ What Business Can Learn from Nonprofits

Here’s what really struck me: Michael is building teams — high-retention, purpose-driven, accountable teams — in neighborhoods with every barrier you can imagine.

And it’s working.

Why? Because they lead with mission, not just metrics.

They care more. And people stay longer because of it.

There’s a real lesson here for for-profit companies. Purpose isn’t a luxury—it’s a retention strategy. Especially for frontline teams.

🧠 Smart Employers Invest in More Than Skills

Whether it’s job training, second-chance hiring, or just seeing your people as humans — the best employers understand that life doesn’t start or end at the workplace.

Michael’s work reminds me that what happens outside of work affects everything inside it.

You want better performance, less turnover, more resilience?
Build systems that support the whole person.

🙌 Final Thought

This episode isn’t just about Chicago. It’s about what happens when we decide to care — and back that care with real structure, leadership, and opportunity.

Michael isn’t just reducing violence. He’s rebuilding community, trust, and future pathways — one job, one mentor, one block at a time.

And for all of us building teams, growing companies, and hiring people with stories we may not understand yet — there’s a lot to learn from that.

🎧 Want the Full Conversation?

Check out the full episode of Unlocked Potential on YouTube — or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

▶️ Watch on YouTube
🎙️ Listen on Spotify
🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

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