Rustin Pangburn: Founder, Ceo, Why Not Mindset

My name is Rustin Pangburn, and I am the founder of Why Not Mindset, a nonprofit built on lived experience, second chances, and the belief that people are more than their worst mistake. The most crucial moment of incarceration is not the day someone goes in. It is the first 90 days after they come home. I know this because I lived it. In 2010, I was released from federal prison after serving 60 months. I had no money, no connections, and no blueprint for what came next. Just grey sweatpants, a white T shirt, and the determination to never go back. What most people do not see is what happens inside a person’s mind during those first 90 days. The doubt is loud. The rejection is constant. Temptation is close. And the past is only one phone call away. Most people do not fail because they do not want to change. They fail because they are released with no structure, no support, and no one helping them navigate the moment where everything is on the line. That is why we built the Why Not Mindset 90 day micro pilot. This $3,000 goal will directly support individuals in their first 90 days after release by covering real, immediate needs that create stability when it matters most. Your support will help provide: • Bus passes so transportation is not a barrier to work, appointments, or treatment • Prepaid phones so people can apply for jobs, answer employer calls, and stay connected • Clothing vouchers to local thrift stores for interviews and daily stability • Haircuts so people can show up with dignity and confidence • Mentorship and guidance rooted in lived experience so no one has to figure this out alone This is not about handouts. This is about bridge building. The first 90 days decide whether someone rebuilds their identity or retreats back to what feels familiar. I am asking for support because I know what those days feel like when you are walking them alone. This work is personal. It is proven by lived experience. And it is built to intervene at the exact moment most people fall through the cracks. If you believe in second chances, if you believe people are more than their worst mistake, and if you want to help someone survive the most critical 90 days of their life, I invite you to support this work. Because when you support the first 90 days, you are not just helping someone stay out. You are helping them reclaim who they are. Thank you for standing with us. Why Not Be The Change #Together