Chris Wilson signs and discusses “The Master Plan”

Left Bank Books welcomes social entrepreneur, mentor, and public speaker Chris Wilson, who will sign and discuss his new book, "The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose," with Missouri Workforce Housing Association executive director Jeff Smith! 

This event is free and open to the public, but proof of purchase of "The Master Plan" from Left Bank Books will be required to enter the signing line. 

Growing up in a tough Washington, D.C., neighborhood, Chris Wilson was so afraid for his life he wouldn’t leave the house without a gun. One night, defending himself, he killed a man. At eighteen, he was sentenced to life in prison with no hope of parole. But what should have been the end of his story became the beginning. Deciding to make something of his life, Chris embarked on a journey of self-improvement—reading, working out, learning languages, even starting a business. He wrote his Master Plan: a list of all he expected to accomplish or acquire. He is the embodiment of second chances, and this is his unforgettable story.

Jeff Smith is executive director of the Missouri Workforce Housing Association, which comprises 190 organizations dedicated to preserving and developing safe, decent affordable housing throughout the state. He also consults for Concordance Academy, a non-profit focused on helping former prisoners successfully transition back to the community. Previously, Jeff was a professor of urban policy at The New School's Milano Graduate School. From 2006-2009, Jeff represented St. Louis City in the Missouri Senate. Jeff has written three books: "Trading Places," "Mr. Smith Goes to Prison," and "Ferguson in Black and White." Jeff, whose TED talk on prison entrepreneurship has garnered over a million views, serves on the national boards of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program and American Prison Data Systems.

For more information, contact Lauren Wiser at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

https://www.left-bank.com/event/chris-wilson