<div>My name is <strong>Shareef Cousin</strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>At 16 years old, I was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death. I spent more than a decade <a href="https://youtu.be/udUXAYVSh1k?si=ZYZZYflGQjPr2J7t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on death row for a crime I did not commit</a></strong> <strong>before being exonerated - <em>Time Magazine Article January 19, 1998</em>, </strong><a href="https://time.com/archive/6732110/dead-teen-walking/." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://time.com/archive/6732110/dead-teen-walking/." target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://time.com/archive/6732110/dead-teen-walking/.</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778010834519177_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778010903703943_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778011245519967_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>But the truth is—freedom didn’t begin the day I walked out of prison.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Freedom is something I am still learning every day.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Today, I am traveling the country full-time in an RV with my two sons.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We are homeschooling, healing, rebuilding our relationship as a family, and learning how to live again—on our own terms.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This journey is about:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>Healing after Incarceration
</li>
<li>Rebuilding Fatherhood and Family
</li>
<li>Sharing the Truth about what comes after Wrongful Conviction
</li>
<li>Creating Space for others in the Exoneree and Justice-Impacted Community
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I am documenting this journey in real time through my voice, my story, and my platform.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778013359261367_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Most people think freedom ends at release.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>But for people like me—and many others—it is just the beginning.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>There is still:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>Trauma to Heal
</li>
<li>Identity to Rebuild
</li>
<li>Families to Reconnect
</li>
<li>Communities to Serve
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I am choosing to do that work out loud, so others don’t have to do it alone.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Due to recent federal contract changes tied to broader economic instability, my primary source of income ended on May 1.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This has created an unexpected transition moment for me and my family.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Instead of stepping back, I am choosing to step fully into this next chapter—building a platform centered on healing, advocacy, fatherhood, and impact.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>But I cannot do it alone.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I am raising $10,000 to stabilize my family and fully build the next phase of this mission.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This is not just about support—it’s about building something that can impact lives far beyond my own.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Your Support Will Directly Fund:</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Family Stability</strong>
</div>
<div>Housing, RV costs, food, travel, and homeschool support for my sons
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Advocacy &amp; Community Work</strong>
</div>
<div>Supporting exonerees, justice reform conversations, and community engagement
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Speaking &amp; Revenue Infrastructure</strong>
</div>
<div>Travel, outreach, and building a sustainable speaking and advocacy career
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Emergency Stability Fund</strong>
</div>
<div>Providing a 3-month financial cushion during this transition
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Platform &amp; Media Growth</strong>
</div>
<div>Video production, editing, storytelling, and building my digital presence
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778001128685810_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Ways You Can Support:</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong> $25 — Support the Journey</strong>
</div>
<div>Helps cover daily essentials for Shareef and his sons while living and learning on the road.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>$50 — Fuel the Road Ahead</strong>
</div>
<div>Contributes to fuel and travel costs as Shareef continues documenting his journey across the country.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>$100 — Invest in Learning</strong>
</div>
<div>Supports homeschool materials, educational resources, and daily learning experiences for his sons.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>$250 — Keep the Journey Moving</strong>
</div>
<div>Helps cover RV park stays, safe housing, and stability for Shareef and his family on the road.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>$500 — Amplify the Story</strong>
</div>
<div>Supports content creation, video editing, and the growth of Shareef’s platform to reach more people.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>$1,000 — Power the Mission</strong>
</div>
<div>Helps fund travel and preparation for speaking engagements, advocacy work, and community impact.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>$2,500+ — Build the Future</strong>
</div>
<div>Major contribution toward stabilizing Shareef’s family and scaling his long-term mission as a speaker, advocate, and leader.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Over the years, I have worked with and been trusted by:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>City of New Orleans</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Witness to Innocence</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Voices of the Experienced</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Family Center of Hope</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Louisiana Crisis Assistance Center</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Ortique Leadership Institute</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Senator Royce Duplessis</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Judge Kern Reese</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>Mercer University (Recent Speaker, April 2026)</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I have delivered over 100+ talks and presentations and supported 250+ exoneree community members.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778011864526627_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778034092695034_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778011924916202_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103243633_1778105139251178_r.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I am actively building:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>A National Speaking Platform
</li>
<li>A Growing Digital Storytelling Presence
</li>
<li>A Body of Work Centered on Healing and Justice
</li>
<li>A Documented Journey of Fatherhood and Rebuilding life
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If my story resonates with you, I’m asking for <em>your support</em>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>No amount is too small.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>And if you’re not in a position to give, sharing this with your network means everything.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I survived death row.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Now I’m building freedom—for myself, my sons, and others who are still finding their way.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for being part of this journey.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>— Shareef
</div>

Clive Stafford Smith

Anonymous

Patricia Glorioso

Dolly Barrios

Michael Cahoon

Teniesha Biagas

shauneen claire lambe

Nicole Heisser

Gary Hawkins

From Death Row to the Road: Support Shareef Cousin’s Journey

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

Eligible for Profile Share Badge

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

isEligibleForProfileBadge

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.3.0 and above

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

From Death Row to the Road: Support Shareef Cousin’s Journey

Still $8,413 to go. Help us build momentum.