Published
May 26, 2023
Author
Block
Published
May 26, 2023
Author
Block
In the summer of 2022, Block partnered with the Shawn Carter Foundation to provide free education on bitcoin for residents of the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn, New York, where Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter grew up. Dubbed the Bitcoin Academy, the program aimed to equip Marcy community members with knowledge of bitcoin specifically and the financial system in general.
Bitcoin Academy instructors included:
- Lamar Wilson, founder of Black Bitcoin Billionaire
- Ryan D. Lawrence, community leader and educator
- Najah Roberts, cryptocurrency educator
- Corey Marshall, writer and comic
- Justin Rhedick, author of From Bars to Bitcoin
- Charles J. Kelly, financial educator and bitcoin investor
"Bitcoin education is a door to financial access."
The Bitcoin Academy: Summer 2022 Recap
Engagement
The Academy aimed to provide the Marcy community with financial tools and education, making space for the residents to learn more about bitcoin specifically and finance in general.
Online education
Recordings of past classes and new video tutorials are available exclusively to Marcy residents who signed up online.
Sample classes
Taught in person, recorded, and available online to anyone from Marcy who registered with The Bitcoin Academy.
- Wealth Building and Assets
- Why Decentralization Matters
- Staying Safe from Scammers
- Bitcoin & Taxes
- Careers in Crypto
Connectivity
The Academy distributed approximately 100 MiFi devices to students with a one-year limited data plan. Smartphones were also given to students who needed one. This hardware distribution was made possible by collaboration with T-Mobile.
Teens & tweens
In addition to adult classes, we hosted a half-day Saturday session for twenty-five Marcy kids aged 11–17 called “The Bitcoin Academy: Future Edition.”
Published
May 26, 2023
Author
Block
In the summer of 2022, Block partnered with the Shawn Carter Foundation to provide free education on bitcoin for residents of the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn, New York, where Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter grew up. Dubbed the Bitcoin Academy, the program aimed to equip Marcy community members with knowledge of bitcoin specifically and the financial system in general.
Bitcoin Academy instructors included:
- Lamar Wilson, founder of Black Bitcoin Billionaire
- Ryan D. Lawrence, community leader and educator
- Najah Roberts, cryptocurrency educator
- Corey Marshall, writer and comic
- Justin Rhedick, author of From Bars to Bitcoin
- Charles J. Kelly, financial educator and bitcoin investor
"Bitcoin education is a door to financial access."
The Bitcoin Academy: Summer 2022 Recap
Engagement
The Academy aimed to provide the Marcy community with financial tools and education, making space for the residents to learn more about bitcoin specifically and finance in general.
Online education
Recordings of past classes and new video tutorials are available exclusively to Marcy residents who signed up online.
Sample classes
Taught in person, recorded, and available online to anyone from Marcy who registered with The Bitcoin Academy.
- Wealth Building and Assets
- Why Decentralization Matters
- Staying Safe from Scammers
- Bitcoin & Taxes
- Careers in Crypto
Connectivity
The Academy distributed approximately 100 MiFi devices to students with a one-year limited data plan. Smartphones were also given to students who needed one. This hardware distribution was made possible by collaboration with T-Mobile.
Teens & tweens
In addition to adult classes, we hosted a half-day Saturday session for twenty-five Marcy kids aged 11–17 called “The Bitcoin Academy: Future Edition.”