Once featured on BET’s American Gangster: Trap Queens for their high-profile white-collar crimes, Dr. Jamila T. Davis and Dr. Ayana K. Bean are now rewriting the national narrative—not as cautionary tales, but as catalysts for justice reform, youth empowerment, and second chances.
Today, they are no longer inmates or headlines. They are doctors. They are change agents. And they are showing America what transformation really looks like.
From Prison Sentences to Policy Shifts
Dr. Davis, sentenced to over a decade in federal prison for bank fraud, didn’t waste her time behind bars. Instead, she found purpose and a pen. From a prison cell, she created the ‘Voices of Consequences Enrichment Series’—a trauma-informed curriculum for incarcerated women that has since been adopted by the Bureau of Prisons and approved under the First Step Act.
“This work is about righting those wrongs and making sure the next generation doesn’t have to fall to rise,” Dr. Davis tell ShineMyCrown.Com in an exclusive interview.
Dr. Bean, a Boston native and fellow former federal inmate, returned home determined to educate and empower women and youth facing similar systemic barriers.
Through her nonprofit ‘A Year And A Day’, she now leads programming focused on financial literacy, reentry support, and urban empowerment.
Her work earned her an honorary doctorate—a recognition, she says, that affirms “the lives we’ve helped change.”
Boss Up Boston: Where Second Chances Become First Steps
In 2024, the two powerhouses launched ‘Boss Up Boston’, a youth entrepreneurship initiative targeting teenagers ages 14–18.
With no startup funding but unwavering commitment, they partnered with the City of Boston’s SuccessLink Summer Employment Program to pay stipends to students while teaching them how to launch their own businesses.
The result? Over 40 youth-led ventures in eight weeks—including beauty brands, food businesses, and wellness companies—guided by the curriculum ‘Boss Up! The Official Guide for Teen Entrepreneurship’ authored by Dr. Davis. The initiative is housed under Partners Uplifting Our Daughters and Sons (PUDS), where Dr. Davis serves as Program Director.
“This isn’t just a program—it’s a movement,” said Dr. Davis. “We’re proof that with lived experience, vision, and a community-first mindset, you can flip the trap and build legacy.”
A Sisterhood Forged in Fire, Leading a Generation Forward
Dr. Davis and Dr. Bean’s journey is more than redemption—it’s a blueprint!
They now serve as national voices in the justice-impacted leadership movement and co-lead the Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action (IRSJA) to train youth, community builders, and credible messengers nationwide.
The ‘Boss Up Boston’ program was expanded into a year-round model in response to its success—despite still operating without dedicated funding. The City of Boston took note: Dr. Bean received the Extraordinary Women Award, and youth participants Rex and Maliyah were also recognized for their entrepreneurial achievements.
Early support came from fellow formerly incarcerated changemaker Syrita Steib, Executive Director of Operation Restoration, who provided seed funding and mentorship.
“We came from systems that weren’t built to heal us,” said Dr. Bean. “But instead of being erased, we chose to lead.”
America’s New Blueprint for Community Change
In a time where the justice system still struggles with rehabilitation and reintegration, these two women offer a powerful counter-narrative. From federal convictions to doctoral honors, from public shame to public service—they’re not just surviving, they’re thriving.
Dr. Davis and Dr. Bean represent a new kind of leadership—rooted in experience, driven by purpose, and committed to legacy. They’re showing that even those labeled as “Trap Queens” can become America’s most powerful Blueprint Builders.
To learn more or support the Boss Up Boston Teen Entrepreneurship Program, visit here.
