Episode 85: Khalid Cannon
- June 3, 2025
Breaking Cycles of Incarceration Through Youth Sports with Khalid Cannon
Khalid Cannon is the President of Put Me In, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children of incarcerated parents. Before leading this mission-driven organization, Cannon built an impressive academic and professional foundation—earning a double major in Chemistry and Geology from Yale, where he also served as a three-year starter on the football team. After graduation, he worked in the mining industry and later transitioned to management consulting. His trajectory shifted dramatically when he connected with Matt Blodgett, co-founder of Put Me In, bonding over shared experiences of growing up with incarcerated fathers. Their parallel stories and passion for youth mentorship led Cannon to help build an organization that’s now redefining support systems for justice-impacted youth through athletics and community-based mentorship.
“I spent most of my life pushing this part of me down—growing up with an incarcerated parent, carrying that silence and stigma. But once I started talking about it, I realized just how powerful our stories can be when we use them to help others.”
In the interview, Cannon reflects on how growing up in rural Alabama, with the support of extended family and youth sports coaches, helped him navigate the challenges of having an incarcerated parent. He speaks candidly about the hidden stigma he carried—even through his time at Yale—and how he and Blodgett were inspired to “put the ladder back down” for the next generation. A central theme of the conversation is the power of sports as a developmental and leadership tool: not just for athletic excellence, but for building perseverance, teamwork, and communication skills that translate directly into professional success. Cannon also unpacks the data-backed importance of early intervention and mentorship for children of incarcerated parents—an often-overlooked demographic in criminal justice reform conversations.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction of Khalid Cannon and overview of his role at Put Me In
(00:03:45) Childhood in Alabama and growing up with an incarcerated father
(00:09:00) Impact of sports and early athletic experiences
(00:13:30) Attending Yale, balancing academics and football
(00:17:40) Early career in mining and consulting after college
(00:22:00) Meeting Matt Blodgett and discovering shared experiences
(00:27:00) Founding Put Me In and building a support model for youth
(00:32:00) Stigma, silence, and learning to share his personal story
(00:36:45) Leadership lessons and values shaped by team sports
(00:42:00) Vision for scaling Put Me In and organizational partnerships
(00:47:30) Importance of mentorship and representation for youth
(00:52:15) Advice for future changemakers and reflections on impact
(00:56:30) Final thoughts, gratitude, and how to support Put Me In
Episode Resources:
With a 75% post-incarceration employment rate and less than 5% recidivism rate, The Last Mile has created a new precedent for job opportunities and sustainable wages for justice-impacted individuals. By giving returned citizens proper training while incarcerated, job search support, and following up with support services, The Last Mile is moving the needle on Fair Chance employment.
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