Doug Haas Bennett
Policy makers at the state and national level are considering creative ways to reintegrate ex-felons into society. Doug Haas Bennett had a unique approach - she employed former prisoners in her costume shop.
When Doug first opened her shop in 1975, she had a lot to learn. For one thing, it was just before Halloween, and Doug had no idea how busy her store was about to get. Over the years, she was asked to make costumes of all kinds. Once, a drug company asked her to make what they called "Herpes Man."
For Doug, the shop was always about more than fitting people in outrageous clothing - it was a way for her reach out to her community. For years, Doug worked at the North Carolina women's correctional facility teaching writing classes to inmates. Many of the women she helped came to work for her after they were paroled.
Guest host Aaron Henkin talks with Doug about her 30 years running Doug Haas's Raleigh Creative Costume Shop, and why the store had to close last month.
Aaron also talks with Onia Royster, one of the women Doug has helped. Onia is an ex-felon who served as Doug's office manager. These days, Onia continues to pay Doug's kindness forward. She works with people infected with HIV.
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