Location: Orange County (or we can just say Southern California)
Area of Knowledge: Support for formerly-incarcerated Southeast Asians facing deportation, cross-racial solidarity organizing, re-entry, coalition-building
Tin serves as the Immigrant Justice Coordinator at VietRISE, guiding others through successful reentry. He advocates for policy change alongside organizations like the Orange County Justice Fund, and Harbor Institute, and has been a consultant at Cal State LA’s Center of Engagement for Public Good and Service. Tin’s journey from incarceration to advocacy stands as a testament to the resilience and transformative power of second chances. A Vietnamese refugee in the early 1980s in Pomona, California, Tin experienced racial prejudice, bullying, and abuse as a child. As a teenager, Tin sought solace in a gang that offered him a distorted sense of security and the love he craved, which led to a life of drugs, crime, and violence. In 1996, a terrible choice resulted in the tragic loss of an innocent life, an act that he deeply regrets. Tin was sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP). However, during his time in prison, Tin secured a commutation from Governor Brown, offering him a chance at redemption. After enduring over two decades behind bars and a grueling 10 months in ICE detention, Tin was released on September 28th, 2020. He has since led a purpose-driven life surrounded by family, friends, and a supportive community.