ConfPad

In 2017, I was released from prison after serving 17 years. One of the most transformational experiences I had while incarcerated was learning to code, through a pioneering new program called Code.7370 — the first coding curriculum in a United States prison. In this talk, I’d like to share my experiences learning to code in prison and getting a software engineering job after my release, with the goals of: Inspiring new programmers to stick with it and be confident in their abilities Inspiring educators to think about how to support new coders in a broad range of learning environments (there’s no internet in prison!) Inspiring everyone to think about the potential for rehabilitation in prison in a new way