Chris Young
Senior Fellow
Buried Alive Project
Nashville, TN USA
“Your mentality equals your reality.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationChris Young
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
I’m from Clarksville, Tennessee.
My childhood was difficult because of my mom’s drug addiction.
I eventually went into foster care and was taken in by a family friend.
I started selling drugs as a teenager—my anger from my upbringing fueled my ambition to be successful but I just applied it to a goal that unfortunately has severe repercussions.
I was given two life sentences plus five years in prison at 22 years old after a third nonviolent drug-related conviction.
After 10 years in prison, I received presidential clemency and was released.
Upon being released, I incorporated a company with the goal of building an app called Like YOU to provide a community and remove the isolating effects of trauma for people like me.
I also work as a senior fellow for my lawyer’s organization (Buried Alive Project) which helps to free people serving life sentences for outdated federal drug laws.
Keep following my journey
Education
GED
Career
Senior Fellow
I work to disable life without parole sentences and I made an app to provide a community for people experiencing trauma.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Entrepreneurship
Technology
Helping People
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Start figuring out and pursuing your interests early. I recommend starting on that path in high school. Whatever it is that you're interested in, find ways to start pursuing it while still in school.
Hurdles
Challenges I Overcame
Foster Child
Death and Loss
Formerly Incarcerated
Interviewed By
Being Free
Formerly incarcerated people find purpose
