Martha Stewart after Prison

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On my second day in Las Vegas, Carole and I walked from the Waldorf Hotel to the Venetian, so that I could be one of the first people to register for the Bitcoin Conference. We left around 9:00 am, and the sun was already beaming. By 9:20, we heard music blasting and felt the city buzzing with life. 

I paused when I saw a larger-than-life image of Martha Stewart. Her picture reminded me how that our country has far too many people who’ve been convicted of felony convictions. Still, I could use her story as one of hope and inspiration.

Martha Stewart, once branded with a criminal record, didn’t let that conviction define her. She didn't hide from her past. She reinvented herself. That’s a lesson for every person who goes through the system. The past doesn't have to define the future. 

At any time, we can build rebuild, lead again, thrive. She did.

My name is Michael Santos. I'm the founder of PrisonProfessors.org, a nonprofit fully committed to providing free resources to empower people who’re going through challenging times. We live in a country that incarcerates more people than any other on Earth. That reality devastates families, communities, and economies—and the damage continues even after people leave prison.

Consider Mike, a person recently released from prison. He holds a Ph.D. in economics, but while in the halfway house, he needed a job. Unfortunately, he faced roadblocks simply trying to enroll in an automated payroll system. His criminal record, not his qualifications, triggered the denial. That’s the type of invisible barrier most people never see, but many formerly incarcerated individuals experience every day.

That’s why our nonprofit works to serve as a bridge, trying to position them for success. It’s best for people to start preparing before they go to prison, or while they’re serving the sentence. That’s why we provide:

• Free courses to prisons and directly to individuals.
  
  
• Employment opportunities for justice-impacted citizens.
  
  
• Advocacy to change policies, hoping to open opportunities for people to earn liberty through effort and measurable growth.
  
  
• A growing data set that proves these strategies work—and that reform isn’t just compassionate, it's smart policy.

From Prison to Bitcoin

My sentence began in 1987—before the internet existed. As a person who served 26 years in prison, I know the complications that exist with traditional finance and banks. That’s why I got into Bitcoin. I visited Las Vegas to open financial conversations with other Bitcoiners, hoping to learn more about decentralized finance.

I’d like to play a role in removing gatekeepers and empowering more people to gain control over their financial future. I’m hoping to meet Arthur Hayes, an influencer in the crypto space, and Ross Ulbricht, a person who has a great deal of support from the crypto community. Whether it’s Arthur Hayes or Martha Stewart or Ross Ulbricht, the principle remains:

• Opportunities open for those who refuse to let allow the system to block them from success.

If you're facing challenges with the criminal justice system—or working to rebuild your life after it—start developing a story to transform your life, just as other leaders have done. At no charge to you, visit our nonprofit’s website and get free lessons and resources to start building your bridge to success. I encourage you to come up with a plan, and memorialize your plan by building a profile. You can do so for free, and then leverage it to put yourself in a position for new opportunites, just as I did.

• Visit PrisonProfessors.org
  
  
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel
  
  
• Share our resources with others inside or outside prison
  
  

We’re building a movement based on education, empowerment, and earned freedom. You can be part of it. Stay strong. Stay focused. And never stop believing in your potential to reinvent yourself, just as Martha Stewart and others have done.

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