Pardon opens new chapter for gang leader turned justice advocate

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.

“I came through the era of the war on drugs, where it was all about prison and throwing people in cages,” Sole said. “I dealt with fatherlessness and all the elements.”

After moving to Iowa for his junior and senior years of high school, Sole experienced homelessness and instability. Despite the challenges, he graduated on time but continued to face legal troubles, including multiple cannabis charges. By 18, after returning briefly to Chicago, he relocated to Minnesota, where within months he was arrested for carrying a firearm, a charge that would follow him for decades.

Sole’s arrest was influenced by a combination of circumstance and systemic bias. “When I got arrested with the gun in 1997, they were just saying I was a Black dude from Chicago,” he recalled. “I didn’t understand it all because I wasn’t going to snitch. I had to defend myself.”

His early adult years were punctuated by violence and legal challenges, including a 40-month prison sentence and repeated minor charges. Yet Sole began a deliberate path toward transformation. He enrolled in college in 2004, became president of the Black Student Union, and engaged in activism on campus, advocating for faculty diversity and students’ rights.

“I met my partner in 2005, and that grounded me,” he said. “Even with setbacks, I kept moving forward.”

Sole’s work in restorative justice began in 2008, when he started implementing Indigenous models of conflict resolution nationwide. These programs prioritize community-based solutions, giving both victims and offenders a voice, rather than relying solely on punitive measures.

“Before Christopher Columbus, it wasn’t about punishment. Even youth had a voice, and the community stayed intact,” Sole explained.

In 2017, he launched Humanize My Hoodie, a movement challenging biases around attire and identity, particularly for young Black men. By wearing a hoodie while teaching, Sole sought to humanize individuals often judged by appearance. 

“People saw me as a husband, father. They saw the books I was using, and it resonated,” he said. The initiative gained widespread recognition, earning endorsements from celebrities and athletes.

Building on that work, in 2020 Sole co-founded REP (Relationships Evolving Possibilities), a 10-year abolitionist project that provides community support and alternatives to traditional policing. In 2021, the Bush Foundation awarded REP nearly $1 million, allowing the organization to expand its services without relying on fundraising events.

The pardon, Sole said, is both personal and symbolic. “It feels good to know when I get in my car, nothing comes up when I’m pulled over,” he said. “But it’s more than that… It’s validation of the work I’ve been doing to help others and change systems.”

Sole plans to use his experience to advocate for more pardons, particularly for women who are often overlooked in the process. He also intends to share his story through writing, social media, and public commentary. “I want to give people healthy content to chew on. There’s a lot of manufactured stuff out there,” he said.

Throughout his journey, Sole emphasized resilience and patience. “You be patient, you stay the course, and you’ll get the outcomes you want, even if you don’t get it the first time,” he said. “Never give up, even when they count you out.”

From gang member to college grad, activist and entrepreneur, Jason Sole’s story is one of transformation, perseverance and impact. With the pardon officially granted, he now looks forward to a new chapter defined by community engagement, advocacy and storytelling.

“I can help more people get pardoned, just because I’ve been through the process,” Sole said. “I want to help women applicants get the look they need. This is about creating change that matters, and as you can see, for me, it don’t stop.” he paused. “I’m more than what circumstances tried to make of me, or what they [law enforcement] told me.”

For more information visit www.jasonsole.com.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-rcorder.com.