Looking ahead: Von Cleveland has his sights set on continuing his commitment to helping troubled youth by building The Von Cleveland Foundation, which he launched earlier this month along with a handful of board members with similar backgrounds. He now mentors youth at Indio Juvenile Hall and serves as a re-entry coach for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in Los Angeles. Why it matters: That experience, as well as mentoring from a fellow prisoner, changed the course of Von Cleveland’s life. I tried to teach them the consequences of their actions. “The class was all pedophiles - the very types of people who had abused me.

“I was supposed to be in there longer, but they said if I would teach a class I could get out,” he explained.

By speaking to a group of other prisoners, he would be released from “the hole” and go back to a regular cell. Looking back: During a stint in solitary confinement, Von Cleveland struck a deal.

He faced his first felony charge at age 7 and, by 16, was in prison, where he found himself again at 21.

Zoom in: In person and in his memoir, “Hey White Boy: Conversations of Redemption,” Von Cleveland shares how a childhood marred by sexual assault left him with severe emotional scars and how his outgoing nature gave way to anger and rebellion. Sonny Von Cleveland, a multi-hyphenate actor, photographer, author, motivational speaker, mentor, and more is The Palm Springs Post Person of the Year.

Meet our 2023 Palm Springs Person of the Year 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW Sonny Von Cleveland - motivational speaker, actor, photographer, youth mentor, and cat cafe co-owner.

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