Lorenzo Lewis was born in prison because his mother was jailed at the time of his birth. He battled depression and anxiety and almost re-entered the system of mass incarceration in his teens but he decided to face his emotional challenges and chart a new path.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Webster University, Lewis is today a social entrepreneur, speaker, author and mental health advocate changing lives while doing wonders in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
A two-time TEDx speaker, Lewis announced last week that as of September 23, 2024, he will be transitioning from his role as Founder-In-Residence of The Confess Project of America (TCPA) to fully focus on expanding his for-profit business, TCP Ventures.
“I now serve as a board emeritus member for both TCPA and our non-profit L&J Empowerment,” he said in a statement.
During his time at TCPA, he led the organization to achieve remarkable milestones in community impact and advocacy. Now, his focus is on growing two innovative brands—Confess Health and Confess Schools—by bringing TCPA’s proven curriculum to hospitals and schools across the U.S., according to the statement.
The program seeks to train individuals to become mental health advocates by empowering them with the tools to foster meaningful conversations about emotional well-being and address critical issues like opioid addiction.
While running TCP Ventures and TCPA, Lorenzo is also committed to driving growth and sustainability within the corporate arm, The Lewis Family of Businesses, with an emphasis on family-owned ventures.
Per his statement, his for-profit business has reached new heights, and he sees it as an opportunity to scale operations and drive innovation in new sectors. In this regard, his wife, Jordan Lewis, has been appointed as TCPA’s new CEO—the organization’s first female leader—ensuring the mission continues to thrive.
One of the recent milestones of TCP Ventures was securing $150K in funding through the Signal Fund. This will help the company reach 120 million more people through mental health advocacy in hospitals, schools, and beyond.
TCPA’s $20 million valuation shows that the company has immense potential for growth, proving the strength of the brand and programs, Lewis noted.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported TCPA’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in underrepresented communities. I look forward to this next phase and remain energized to build on our success—creating new opportunities to combine social impact with business growth,” he added.