Julian Castillo is a formerly incarcerated co-founder of Voices From Within and one of the original men who helped shape the project inside Sing Sing Correctional Facility. While incarcerated, he pursued higher education through Mercy College’s Hudson Link program and was honored with the Ossie Davis Award for outstanding scholarly achievement.

Serving a 30-years-to-life sentence before ultimately being granted parole, Julian became a mentor and credible messenger to younger men in prison, using his own story to confront the realities of violence, accountability, and change.

Through Voices From Within, he continues to lift up the voices of people directly impacted by the system, helping communities see not only the harm caused by crime, but also the human capacity for growth and renewal.