Jason Sole, once marked by multiple convictions and gang affiliations, has received a full pardon, closing a chapter that began in the streets of Chicago and culminated in his national recognition as a restorative justice leader.
“I’ve always believed you’re in control of your own narrative,” Sole said in a recent interview. “Don’t let circumstances define you.”
Sole’s early life was shaped by hardship. Growing up in Chicago, his father struggled with heroin while his mother fought to keep the family together. By his mid-teens, Sole was deeply involved in gang activity. At 15, he rose to a minor leadership role within the gang, navigating a world dominated by violence and systemic inequities…