Raul Baez was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. His early childhood consisted of massive traumatic experiences in a chaotic and dysfunctional family. At the age of thirteen, he dropped out of seventh grade and soon after embarked on twenty-six years of drug abuse. The addiction led to multiple incarcerations for a total of twenty-three years. Attempting to commit “suicide by cop” in a shootout with two NYPD police officers, he survived a barrage of bullets—thirty-two shots. In total, Raul had six near-death experiences. As a result of these events he faced over two hundred years in prison. He struggled with homelessness, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. For all intents and purposes he should be dead or in prison for the rest of his life!

Raul unequivocally and unambiguously attributes his powerful transformation to his relationship with God. With a renewed mind, he was able to eradicate the values and belief system that subjugated him for decades. He eventually earned an associate’s degree in real estate appraisal, a bachelor’s degree in personal finance to better understand how money really works, and a master’s degree in business. He started a Sole Proprietorship, an S-CORP, and a non-profit which are the genesis of Set Your Thoughts Free. He is fully passionate about his mission to equip individuals transitioning from prison with biblical principles, character development, and financial literacy.