Phoeun You is a Cambodian genocide survivor and refugee who grew up in Long Beach, CA. Phoeun was sentenced to life at 20 years old.
During his 26-year incarceration, Phoeun participated in and facilitated numerous transformative in-prison group programs. Phoeun is a dedicated mentor to many other Southeast Asian refugees who were incarcerated at a young age and co-founded ROOTS (Restoring Our Original True Selves) to help connect prisoners to their history and culture through education and restorative justice. Phoeun has helped hundreds of incarcerated people on their journeys of rehabilitation and transformation, facilitated dialogues between survivors and responsible parties, led survivor-centered healing circles, and trained countless volunteers to deliver in-prison programs. Phoeun has partnered with Human Rights Watch, Healing Dialogue, and Action, and Re:store Justice.
Phoeun has been featured in national and international media, highlighting his deportation and ‘double punishment’. He has raised awareness about the systemic change states like California can support to bring long-term healing and safety to multi-stressed communities like the one in which he grew up.
Phoeun is eager to continue to build a life of meaning that is grounded in service and transforming trauma, family, and community bonds. Phoeun’s pursuit of inner peace takes him on long motorcycle rides; he looks forward to more travel.
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