My name is Shareef Cousin.

At 16 years old, I was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death. I spent more than a decade on death row for a crime I did not commit before being exonerated - Time Magazine Article January 19, 1998, https://time.com/archive/6732110/dead-teen-walking/.

But the truth is—freedom didn’t begin the day I walked out of prison.

Freedom is something I am still learning every day.

Today, I am traveling the country full-time in an RV with my two sons.

We are homeschooling, healing, rebuilding our relationship as a family, and learning how to live again—on our own terms.

This journey is about:

I am documenting this journey in real time through my voice, my story, and my platform.

Most people think freedom ends at release.

But for people like me—and many others—it is just the beginning.

There is still:

I am choosing to do that work out loud, so others don’t have to do it alone.

Due to recent federal contract changes tied to broader economic instability, my primary source of income ended on May 1.

This has created an unexpected transition moment for me and my family.

Instead of stepping back, I am choosing to step fully into this next chapter—building a platform centered on healing, advocacy, fatherhood, and impact.

But I cannot do it alone.

I am raising $10,000 to stabilize my family and fully build the next phase of this mission.

This is not just about support—it’s about building something that can impact lives far beyond my own.

Your Support Will Directly Fund:

Family Stability

Housing, RV costs, food, travel, and homeschool support for my sons

Advocacy & Community Work

Supporting exonerees, justice reform conversations, and community engagement

Speaking & Revenue Infrastructure

Travel, outreach, and building a sustainable speaking and advocacy career

Emergency Stability Fund

Providing a 3-month financial cushion during this transition

Platform & Media Growth

Video production, editing, storytelling, and building my digital presence

Ways You Can Support:

$25 — Support the Journey

Helps cover daily essentials for Shareef and his sons while living and learning on the road.

$50 — Fuel the Road Ahead

Contributes to fuel and travel costs as Shareef continues documenting his journey across the country.

$100 — Invest in Learning

Supports homeschool materials, educational resources, and daily learning experiences for his sons.

$250 — Keep the Journey Moving

Helps cover RV park stays, safe housing, and stability for Shareef and his family on the road.

$500 — Amplify the Story

Supports content creation, video editing, and the growth of Shareef’s platform to reach more people.

$1,000 — Power the Mission

Helps fund travel and preparation for speaking engagements, advocacy work, and community impact.

$2,500+ — Build the Future

Major contribution toward stabilizing Shareef’s family and scaling his long-term mission as a speaker, advocate, and leader.

Over the years, I have worked with and been trusted by:

City of New Orleans

Witness to Innocence

Voices of the Experienced

Family Center of Hope

Louisiana Crisis Assistance Center

Ortique Leadership Institute

Senator Royce Duplessis

Judge Kern Reese

Mercer University (Recent Speaker, April 2026)

I have delivered over 100+ talks and presentations and supported 250+ exoneree community members.

I am actively building:

If my story resonates with you, I’m asking for your support.

No amount is too small.

And if you’re not in a position to give, sharing this with your network means everything.

I survived death row.

Now I’m building freedom—for myself, my sons, and others who are still finding their way.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

— Shareef