As someone based in the United States, I understand that I may not be eligible for every Binance promotion or able to access Binance.com in the same way others can. Still, I want to participate in the #HumansOfBinance movement because Binance has become part of our nonprofit’s story.
I am the founder of Prison Professors, a nonprofit dedicated to ending intergenerational cycles of recidivism and poverty.
Our process is simple: we create and distribute free books, courses, and self-directed learning resources to people in prison. Recently, we began building a new educational initiative to introduce people in prison to lessons from Binance Academy, even though they do not have access to the internet.
Here is the backstory.
Inspired by Satoshi’s White Paper
I served 26 years in federal prison, from 1987 through 2012. During that time, I had no access to the internet. Since mainstream media rarely covered the evolution of crypto in its early years, I had no way to learn about Bitcoin, blockchain, or the digital-asset movement while I was inside.
Still, I knew that society was advancing while I was away. I pursued self-directed study every day because I wanted to prepare for the world I would eventually reenter. Those habits helped me rebuild after prison. They helped me become financially independent. And they gave me the foundation to build Prison Professors.
Several years after my release, I finally read Satoshi’s white paper. I admired the strategy.
In 2008, the idea of a peer-to-peer digital currency must have seemed impossible to many people. Rather than trying to persuade everyone at once, Satoshi wrote clearly, shared the idea with people who could understand it, and allowed the movement to grow through merit, contribution, and belief.
I saw the wisdom of his approach.
When I began building Prison Professors, I also faced resistance from an entrenched system. Many people did not believe that people in prison would respond to incentives, education, and opportunities to earn freedom through merit. But I believed that if we created the right tools, people would use them.
Step by step, we built the movement.
My Connection to CZ and Binance
My path crossed with Changpeng Zhao, known globally as CZ, when he was preparing for his own experience with the U.S. justice system.
As he prepared for his time in federal prison, we interacted regularly. I shared lessons I had learned about how to make productive use of time in prison. While working with him on the development of Freedom of Money, I learned a great deal about his journey, his values, and the story behind Binance.
At the same time, CZ learned more about Prison Professors and our mission to bring free education to people in prison.
Our nonprofit provides resources at no cost to individuals, families, and institutions. To scale, we must build trust with correctional leaders. We visit prisons, donate books, create courses, and show how self-directed learning can help people prepare for law-abiding, contributing lives after release.
After CZ’s release, he became the largest donor in the history of Prison Professors.
That support helped us expand our work. When I asked CZ for permission to republish educational content from Binance Academy for people in prison, he responded simply:
“Go for it.”
He then connected me with members of his team, who provided written authorization.
Because of that support, we are now working to bring blockchain, Web3, and crypto education to people who otherwise would not have access to it. Many of the people we serve cannot open a laptop, browse Binance Academy, watch YouTube videos, or participate in the digital economy. They live behind walls, without internet access.
But they can still learn.
And if they can learn, they can prepare.
Through Prison Professors, we are working to reach more than one million people in custody with educational resources that can help them understand the world they will eventually reenter. Binance Academy lessons can become part of that bridge.
To me, that is the spirit of #HumansOfBinance.
Besides global leadership as an exchange for trading, accounts, or markets, Binance helps people with access to education. All people benefit when we spread awareness about our changing world. Binance offers tools to build better futures. As a result of those efforts, Web 3.0 leaders learned about our mission, and formed an entire community to advance our mission: x.com/PrisonProf_BNB with #BNB.
I may not be eligible to participate in: https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/29190765235538
But I am grateful to be part of the story.
#HumansOfBinance #BinanceAcademy #FreedomOfMoney #PrisonProfessors #CryptoEducation #BuildAndBuild #Reentry #SecondChances #BNB