EP.94 QUAN HUYNH: A LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER, NOW AN AUTHOR AND ENTREPRENEUR
Quan is the author of his memoir “SPARROW AND THE RAZOR WIREâ€
His is an amazing story of redemption, the importance of second chances and the power of entrepreneurship.
Quan spent twenty-two years in and out of correctional institutions, including a life sentence for murder.
He was paroled 2015 and created his first company six months later. The following year, he received the Peace Fellowship Award for his work with the Alternatives to Violence Project.
He is the post-release program manager for Defy Ventures, a nonprofit helping those with a criminal past transform their lives through the journey of entrepreneurship. (I first met Quan when participating in an entrepreneurship program with DEFY VENTURES at Kern Valley State Prison).
We’ll be talking about:
Quan’s Story
- His Vietnamese background and his early path to gangs and run-ins with the law
- The Role of Taking Responsibility
- The Horrors of Prison
- Getting Out and the Transition to “Civilian Life”
- Rebuilding everything
- His company and his work with Defy Ventures . . .
- Writing his book
- The problems with the criminal justice system
- The path to a better life through entrepreneurism
And what’s next for Quan . . . . (A movie deal I hope!)
Meeting Quan changed my worldview (More about my visit to KERN VALLEY STATE PRISON here). I hope you learn something from Quan’s experience and reconsider the role of the criminal justice system in our society.
More About Quan
Quan on PBS NewsHour
His uplifting story on Google Talks:
How Do We Stay In Touch?
Website: www.quanxhuynh.com
Twitter: @quanxhuynh
Facbook: QUANXHUYNH
Linkedin: QUANXHUYNH
IG: @quanxhuynh