2022 Fellow
Viengsamay is 42 years old and came to America as an infant. During his journey here, his parents went through many hardships to make sure that they can create a better life for him. Understanding that his parents struggled to provide him with a better future, Viengsamay began changing his life around after many years of poor choices due to his involvement with using drugs and being involved with gangs.
Viengsamay began focusing on his self-work and started participating in circles. Circles are groups of people that sit in a circle and discuss personal feelings that can help individuals understand themselves much better. Viengsamay began to understand himself much better through these circles and became more mindful of the harm he created through his poor choices. He understood that he dealt with trauma and how that was a major part of his inflicting trauma on others. That is when Viengsamay began being part of the solution rather than the problem.
After many years of incarceration, Viengsamay got involved with youth work. He currently works for an organization called UTEC where he meets his young adults where they are and show them a better life through economic success. He also began work with TPP where he is in the process of training, and also to understand the role of a circle keeper. TPP is a great organization where he is beginning to learn the connection of Restorative Justice. Through his work with both these organizations, Viengsamay can begin his work as a person who is repairing the harm that he once created. He enjoys the work that he does because he knows that it is impacting something much bigger than himself.
Viengsamay began focusing on his self-work and started participating in circles. Circles are groups of people that sit in a circle and discuss personal feelings that can help individuals understand themselves much better. Viengsamay began to understand himself much better through these circles and became more mindful of the harm he created through his poor choices. He understood that he dealt with trauma and how that was a major part of his inflicting trauma on others. That is when Viengsamay began being part of the solution rather than the problem.
After many years of incarceration, Viengsamay got involved with youth work. He currently works for an organization called UTEC where he meets his young adults where they are and show them a better life through economic success. He also began work with TPP where he is in the process of training, and also to understand the role of a circle keeper. TPP is a great organization where he is beginning to learn the connection of Restorative Justice. Through his work with both these organizations, Viengsamay can begin his work as a person who is repairing the harm that he once created. He enjoys the work that he does because he knows that it is impacting something much bigger than himself.