Literacy and Education Archives

When Christine Calabrese worked as a correctional officer at a men’s prison in Buckeye, Arizona, she saw firsthand how stagnant and mundane prison life could be. Calabrese noticed that inmates were often bored, and more likely to get into trouble simply because they lacked engaging, positive activities. This past year, Calabrese decided to leave her post at the prison and start-up EmBOSSed Book Club, to offer incarcerated men and women a more meaningful and constructive way to spend their time. Her book box subscriptions focus mainly on self-development literature, and for every book box purchased by a customer, a matching set is donated to someone in prison. Calabrese is working to spread the word about EmBOSSed far and wide, with the goal of bringing books to prisons across the country. Here's our lightly edited Q&A, from The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project. How is your business different from others in your industry? We are a for-profit/nonprofit: Our book box subscription is designed to deliver a book to someone in prison that matches the same book a subscriber purchased for themselves. Tell us about your biggest success so far. Capturing the attention of a major news network. This past October, an ABC affiliate here in Arizona featured the book club in a story. Reporter Jordan Bontke interviewed me in service of sharing our mission with a wider audience. Seeing our story on the news was a huge milestone, and really helped us spread the word. What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? Creating the right partnerships, which I address by focusing on building genuine connections and continually reaching out to people who can help me connect those dots. In the end, it's all about staying persistent, because those connections help the book club thrive. Have you experienced any significant personal situations that have affected your business decisions? I made the decision to leave my position as a correctional officer – an experience that really influenced how I approached my company, in that it taught me to align my business decisions with my personal values, as well as the real-life lessons I’ve learned. What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs? Make sure your connections or entry points of sale are solid before you quit your job or make big investments. How do you find inspiration on your darkest days? I listen to inspirational videos daily. What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days? Anything high-energy. Who is your most important role model? Zig Ziglar. He was a spectacular sales trainer, and his insights on motivation and personal growth have profoundly shaped the way I lead and inspire. His legacy of positivity and service is something I strive to embody every day in our mission. Facebook: @EmbossedBookClubTikTok: @Embossed189 Share your story! Check out more stories about women in businessWatch our latest videosSubscribe to our podcast

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