Singer Jay-Z and entrepreneur Jack Dorsey have funded an initiative called “The Bitcoin Academy”. For three months, the latter will allow the holding of trainings around Bitcoin (BTC) for the residents of Marcy House, the Brooklyn neighborhood where the singer grew up.
Jay-Z and Jack Dorsey fund access to training
Jack Dorsey, the founder of Block and Twitter, and singer Jay-Z are funding Bitcoin (BTC) courses. The initiative, called “The Bitcoin Academy,” is aimed at residents of Marcy Houses, a Brooklyn neighborhood where the singer grew up.
The courses will be free and delivered online from June 22 until September 7. Lamar Wilson, founder of the site “Black Bitcoin Billionaire” and Najah Roberts, founder of the exchange Crypto Blockchain Plug, will lead the trainings.
Beyond crypto-currencies, the goal of all this is to address the lack of financial education, as presented on the site’s homepage:
“Bitcoin’s vision is that there are no barriers, but the lack of access to financial education is a barrier.”
Giving everyone a chance
Through this initiative, Jay-Z and Jack Dorsey intend to go beyond a simple training. And for good reason, they go as far as providing access to the Internet, for people in need, as the entrepreneur explains:
“Education is our starting point. It’s not just about Bitcoin [but] local economies and self-confidence. Classes are free for all Marcy residents, including children. And for your convenience, we provide devices and data plans to anyone who needs them.”
As this quote mentions, children will indeed be welcome too. This will be done through a program called “Crypto Kids Camp”, which will be aimed at 5 – 17 year olds on two Saturdays.
In addition to the online courses, face-to-face sessions are also planned. They will take place two evenings a week in the Marcy Houses area and food will be served.
In its philosophy, “The Bitcoin Academy” connects to the original values of Bitcoin, namely, allowing everyone to manage their finances. This program goes even further, providing the necessary logistics so that even the disadvantaged have a chance.
While vectors such as sports advertising or intuitive exchange platforms necessarily contribute to democratization, education remains arguably the most powerful vehicle.