By Ricardo Tello – September 2025
After some time away, I’m finally back online. These past few months since transferring into MCC have been a whirlwind. Moving into a BOP facility has opened unexpected opportunities to grow and to help more people.
What started in a small county jail where I spent nearly two years, has now grown into a mission with the potential to reach people across the country. Here at MCC, I began working in the education department as a GED tutor, teaching both English and Spanish. So far, three men have successfully passed their exams. I am deeply proud of them, especially Chris Stamps, who had been working toward this dream for more than ten years. He is concrete proof that transformation is possible. When he is released, he won’t be the same man who came in––and that inspires me every single day.
Alongside tutoring, I’ve been able to transform the resources section of this site into a rough draft for our organization’s first published book: The Pretrial Inmate Manual. This book represents more than just pages of advice––it’s a way for those without internet access to find guidance, hope, and direction during the hardest stages of the system. I want this first edition to be available as soon as possible in detention centers and holdover facilities across the country, helping people change their lives from the inside out.
Another milestone has been the chance to speak at a “mock job fair” here at MCC. Thanks to the support of the education staff and the warden, I spoke to about 50 men about release planning––about how something as simple as preparing for a job can be the first step to unlocking every other goal in life. That message is becoming the foundation of our first class, Pathways to Reentry: Release Plan Project. Our hope is to introduce it here first, and later across the BOP as a First Step Act approved program that will provide not just good time credit, but real motivation to change.
On a personal note, one of the greatest blessings has been reuniting with my family during in-person visits. Being able to hug my children, to sit with them, and to spend real time together has given me peace and renewed determination. Their love reminds me daily of why I can’t stop pushing, why I need to be better, and why I must keep working toward freedom.
I also want to thank all of you who have visited this site and reached out. Just this week I received two messages (thank you Dani and Dany!) sharing encouragement. In here, conversations are limited, phones often go unanswered, and life outside keeps moving while mine feels paused. But your words––your recognition of this work––give me strength. This site is created in hopes that people who don’t even know me personally can see value in what we’re building, I can only imagine the impact it will have on those walking the same path.
Looking back, it still amazes me how all this started: my best friend sent me books. Those books became book reports, which turned into discussions, which turned into studying law, which turned into helping others. One step at a time, it snowballed into something larger than me––a movement I believe will one day reach millions.
Today, my mom, my sisters, family and friends all continue to fuel this mission. They help with ideas, editing, and most importantly, by giving me hope. To everyone––whether you’ve sent a message, made a call, or simply shared a smile during a visit––thank you. You’ve helped me turn one of the darkest periods of my life into a season of growth, purpose, and transformation.
This isn’t just about me. It’s about proving that change is possible. And together, we can keep building something that outlives prison walls and leaves a legacy of hope.