Collaborate with Northeastern Univ.

Welcome to Prison Professors.

In this post, I want members of our community to see our advocacy in action. If we work to bring attention to all that’s important to us, we can build relationships with other people. Those people can introduce us to others. Through these relationships, we can influence change.

In the accompanying video, I share a conversation I had with Jacob Belzerini—a second-year PhD student from Northeastern University who is already making a difference by teaching inside jails. Jacob reached out to me after watching an interview I did with the Soft White Underbelly. He wanted to connect, collaborate, and help people inside prison take control of their future.

This is the heart of our mission: to build a community of people who believe in second chances, who understand the power of self-transformation, and who are willing to do the work.

Why We Collaborate

Jacob teaches a course on domestic relations at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office in Massachusetts. Like many educators, he was hesitant at first. But as he shared in our talk, once he stepped into the jail and connected with people as people, he saw something shift. He witnessed positive change—in habits, in demeanor, in mindset. And once you see that kind of transformation, you can't unsee it.

People like Jacob changed my life at the start of my journey, when I was locked in solitary confinement, facing a life sentence. He passed me a book. From that book, I learned to think differently. The lessons I learned influenced my adjustment.

That’s why I was honored to speak with him. We recorded the conversation to share directly with people inside jails and prisons. If you’re one of those individuals, locked in a jail or prison, I’m sending this message to you. If you’re like Jacob, working to be the change you want to see in the world, I hope you’ll share it with others.

You Have the Power to Change Everything

I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. I was arrested at 23 years old and ultimately sentenced to 45 years in federal prison. I served 26 of those years—9,500 days. But even in the darkest hours, I refused to let the system define me. Instead, I focused on building a life:

• I earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in prison.
• I wrote and published books.
• I built a support network that included professors, business leaders, and community advocates.
• I created businesses that support my nonprofit today.
• And I dedicated myself to helping others achieve their own version of success.
  
  

You can do the same—but you have to start now.

Use the Free Resources at Prison Professors

At PrisonProfessors.org, everything is free. There are no hidden fees. We fund this platform through personal support and nonprofit partnerships because we believe that access to education and preparation should be a right—not a privilege. Here’s how you can begin:

📘 Read Earning Freedom

This book details my entire journey—from arrest to release—and shows how I maintained hope, built skills, and positioned myself for success. We send it to people in prison for free. If you’re interested, give your name and registration number to Jacob (or any advocate working with us), and we’ll get it to you.

🛠️ Use Our Course Materials

We offer:

• Prison: My 8,344th Day – A daily mindset guide.
• Success After Prison – A workbook for building life skills and support networks.
• Preparing for Success After Prison – A First Step Act-approved course.
• Digital Economy Lessons – Covering crypto, Bitcoin, and AI so you stay competitive.
• The Straight-A Guide – A proven strategy to connect daily decisions with long-term goals.
  
  

🌐 Build a Talent Profile

Visit our new platform Prison Professors Talent and start documenting your personal growth. You can:

• Write your biography.
• Submit journal entries.
• Create book reports.
• Draft your release plan.
• Collect testimonials from teachers, mentors, or community leaders.

Every piece of content you publish earns points—not just as recognition, but as a public record of your commitment to change. Judges, probation officers, and employers won’t believe in your potential just because you say you’ve changed. You have to show them.

Never Stop Thinking About the World Outside

One of the worst pieces of advice I ever heard in prison was this:

• “Forget the world outside. Just do your time.”

Anyone who offers that advice, in my view, is not your friend. I want to be your friend, and I will tell you that if you want to succeed upon release, you must think about your future every day. Don’t wait for the system to offer you an opportunity. Create your own. And don’t wait to feel hopeful before you act. Take action—and the hope will follow.

Build Your Legacy

When I was in prison, I read a powerful book called A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It reminded me that no matter how grim your surroundings, your mind remains your own. I used my time in prison to build something bigger than myself—a mission to change the justice system by preparing others for success.

Today, more than 1,400 people in jails and prisons across the country are using our free platform to document their growth and transformation. You can be next.

Reflection Questions

1. What does success look like for you—on the other side of the prison gates?
   
   
2. What story will your biography tell about who you are becoming?
   
   
3. What skills or knowledge do you need to build while you’re inside?
   
   
4. Who are you surrounding yourself with—and how are they influencing your mindset?
   
   
5. What would your release plan look like if you started writing it today?
   
   

My Three Promises to You

Let me close with the three promises I make to everyone who engages with Prison Professors:

1. I will never lie to you.
2. I will never ask you to do anything I didn’t do myself.
3. I will never ask you for a penny.

If you're willing to do the work, Prison Professors will offer resources you can use to grow. But no one should work harder than you to prepare for success.

A Message to Families and Advocates

If you're a family member or educator reading this, I invite you to visit PrisonProfessors.org. Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and X. Share our work. Advocate alongside us. Let’s reduce incarceration by increasing preparation.