Talking with Sonny Von Cleveland -- Abuse Survivor & Ex-Con who transformed his own life
Manage episode 374211151 series 3346363
Sonny Von Cleveland speaks openly and honestly about the horrific sexual abuse he suffered as a very young child. He ended up going to prison at a young age and found himself as a teenager among hardened criminals. How he got through this and how he found his way to making peace with his past and learning how to forgive -- well it's one amazing story and Sonny credits one prisoner in particular who was near Sonny when they were both in "the hole" (solitary confinement), with teaching him how to change his life. This amazing Muslim man challenged Sonny to transform his approach to life, and to try forgiveness and kindness. Through his inspiring words, he helped Sonny heal.-- to the point where he got his time in solitary shortened and was asked to present a course in the prison. In a cruel twist of fate, the course was to be presented to all pedophiles and Sonny had to wrestle with his own feelings and past. In the end he decided to do it, and taught the class. He reminds that each of the men in that class were once an innocent little boy before their innocence was broken, and they chose the path they did.
Inspiring and uplifting, Sonny's story reminds us that we can choose to look at our lives in a different at any time. Today we can make changes.
Sonny continues to make a difference with his work with juveniles, his new book "Hey White Boy," his coaching (itopoacoaching), and his podcast "The Morning Choice." As he tells it, it is simple to live a good life: Be kind --both to others and to yourself.
Pre-order his book (due out in September), "Hey White Boy -- Conversations on Redemption" from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hey-White-Boy-Conversations-Redemption-ebook/dp/B0CB9RB83V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3W0MY6X5GYZ2R&keywords=hey+white+boy&qid=1691980012&s=books&sprefix=hey+white+boy+%2Cstripbooks%2C188&sr=1-1
Hey, White Boy: Conversations of Redemption is the story of Sonny’s transformation from victimhood to self-actualization and redemption through the mentorship and teachings of a fellow inmate – a Muslim man whom he met during the 19 months he spent in solitary conferment. Through this man’s teachings, Sonny put himself through intense self-examination and scrutiny and used his mentors’ instructions to confront his past, forgive those who wronged him, hold himself accountable, and rebuild himself into the motivational speaker he is today.
Hey, White Boy is a profoundly authentic and moving memoir about what it means to let go, transform, and rise from the experiences of our past.
His contact info :
Sonny Von Cleveland
Director & Mindset Coach
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL7Noxq4twziF_yHHCgBqA
His podcast "The Morning Choice," on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZDj-s2fS69UvrHe6JJjdQsq9IEIhnPwl
iTopia Coaching
m: (1) 216.644.8198
e: sonny@itopiacoaching.com
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Original music "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for interviews)
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