Meet Larry Turnley Jr | Author & Self Employed

We had the good fortune of connecting with Larry Turnley Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Larry, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m from Nashville, Tn. Growing up in JC Napier public housing prepared me for every obstacle and challenge I’ve faced on my journey. After being sentenced to Life in Federal Prison at the age of 24 and sent to Beaumont, Tx. I credit Growing up in public housing as the guide that equipped me in adjusting and enduring that traumatic event. That and me studying and learning about my history. Which gave me solace in knowing that as long as I was around black people I was around family. My journey of being raised by a single mother and my father being mostly incarcerated my whole life forced me to grow up fast and experience a lot as a youth. Not to mention my own bouts and brushes with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. All of these experiences is what transformed me into to advocate for vulnerable communities.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My drive, discipline, determination and purpose is what separates me from others. Knowing that so many ppl are depending on me to be the one to shatter the stereotypes of convicted felons. From me getting immediate release from federal prison in 2016 after serving 20yrs with no pre-release classes. Then working at a temporary service agency , starting a Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Coat Drive in the community where I helped destroy with my drug dealing, becoming a community activist, to working as Regional Organizing Director on Tom Steyer’s 2020 Presidential campaign, to saving $100,000 in five yrs, to starting my on Junk Removal and Real Estate investment company, to completing Columbia Business School Financial Empowerment Program, to becoming a author writing my first book, “What’s YOUR Excuse? How I used my prison experience to save One Hundred Thousand Dollars: and now being interviewed for the Procurement Board. Was it easy? Of course not, because it required a lot of sacrifice. I’ve also wrote a Bill that I’m trying to get passed through the Tennessee State Legislator.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to some local iconic spots here in Nashville. I would introduce them to some Nashville Hot Chicken from “Princess” , let them taste some local whiskey by “Guidance” and the take them to Downtown Nashville and have the Experience Broadway. Also I’d give them a tour of the many Historical Black Universities here in Nashville.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes, Napoleon Hill’s book, ” Keys to Success ” The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement: is the book that shifted my mind and changed my thinking. Also the likes of Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X and George Jackson gave me examples of what manhood looks like.

Website: www.ltlarryturnley.com

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