Say Word, Let's Talk About It - An Interview with Quintin Murray

Quintin Murray joined Ignacio House last month from a shelter in Schenectady, NY. He was released on March 3rd, 2020 - just a week before the U.S. was forced into quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic - after successfully meeting the requirements of program, vocational, and good behavior.

Quintin is Ignacio House’s newest resident, a full-time NYU student studying to earn his AA in Liberal Arts with a plan to continue on and earn his his BA in Social Work, a motivational speaker, facilitator of multiple groups, and founder of Say Word, Let’s Talk About It.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me Quintin and share your story. Let’s start with when you were released on March 3rd, just before the quarantine began... Could you tell me about your experience?

I went straight from prison to a shelter in  Schenectady, NY. Within a week of getting out, I was stuck in that shelter because of the COVID quarantine. I was there for about six months and I was trying to continue my studies online but, anyone can tell you, trying to do work in a shelter is so difficult. It’s a chaotic environment, but I kept at it.

Eventually, NYU told me they have a place when pandemic restrictions lifted a bit. That place was Ignacio House and I joined Sept 4, 2020.

What was it like moving to Ignacio House?

When I arrived at Ignacio House of Studies, I was surprised by how warm and welcoming everything is… It felt too good to be true! I was wondering where the bad was. Thankfully, there was nothing bad and the enrichment activities are really great and the vision is so strong.

This is something the entire country needs and I’m constantly doing things I’ve never done before like yoga, creative writing… we even went on a picnic! This is stuff I’m not used to doing but it helps me grow.

What are you currently studying and where do you go to school? 

In 2017, I applied to New York University (NYU) Prison Education Program to get my liberal arts degree in Social Work and was accepted. I serve on the student council and am also the editor for Voices of the Incarcerated with Creative Expression (V.O.I.C.E.). V.O.I.C.E is a magazine compiled with literary works by incarcerated people.

What do you hope to do with this degree?

I am actually really excited. I have a couple of opportunities. I started training to be a Behavioral Health Specialist about a week and half ago for kids 0 – 16 years old who are in foster care and have been through trauma or are dealing with mental health illnesses. I’ll be doing 1-1 case work and I’m getting trained to look into a situation to see what’s out of place so that I can spot red flags. 

I am also a motivational speaker. 

What do you talk about as a motivational speaker?

I talk about trauma, mental health, public health, re-entry and my personal experiences. I went through abuse when I was younger and that led me to taking drugs to escape and that drug use led me to criminal activity to support that drug abuse. 

When I was incarcerated, I also started the High Achievers Program. The High Achievers Program was created because I didn’t feel like there was enough support for us on the inside. I wanted help in achieving my potential and I asked around and found a lot of other people were feeling the same way. I led the curriculum when I was inside and now I have a team of really great facilitators who are doing it on the inside and I’m speaking on the outside.

That’s incredible and so entrepreneurial. How did you get involved with being an organizer and a motivational speaker? 

Even before I was incarcerated, all the way back to 2005, I was doing community work and liked to give back by connecting with people. I was involved in criminal activities back then, but I also volunteered in shelters. There was always a part of me that wanted to do something meaningful and give back. 

When I was incarcerated I joined Defy Ventures’ Entrepreneur Training program and became a senior facilitator after completing it. Defy Ventures does entrepreneur training across the country in prisons and jails… The focus is on addressing criminal thinking, motivation, purpose, and interest in personal growth and development. I’ve facilitated about 100 of these and received a certificate of Career Readiness from Baylor University of Hankamer School of Business. 

I also received peer counseling certifications from Yale Law School in a Social Helpers Therapeutic Training Course. I served as a role-model for the community and social health. 

And! I received a ‘Gold Certificate’ through Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) on addressing violence through community involvement. 

I am determined to make the most of my experience.

What do you do for therapy or self care?

I go to therapy. After serving time in prison, you don’t just come out and adjust to the norm of society immediately. You’re still there mentally for a while. It’s traumatizing in prison, and if you go in soft with too many principles or morals, you get taken advantage of…You have to adapt to survive in that environment.

When I came out I had to leave that behind and re-learn how to be in the world where I didn’t always have to have my guard up. 

I understand. Could you tell me about a story when you used one of these many certificates and accomplishments in real life? 

Definitely. First, there are so many times where I’ve seen that ‘Ah Ha” awakening moment in the groups I’ve facilitated. It’s so great to see those moments... 

One time, I saw two people having an issue so I went up to one and told him the other had said something good about him. Then I went up to the other and did the same telling him the other guy had said something good about him. Next thing you know, the issue was gone and they were getting along fine. That felt great, being able to resolve a situation in that way. 

I also started Say Word Let’s Talk About It. Right now it’s a Facebook page where my peers and I can talk about our stories and help others too.

That’s so great to hear. Do you have any speaking engagements coming up that we could possibly join?

Actually, I do on November 17th. I got connected with an agent in LA through LinkedIn and she invited me to speak on a panel for a virtual event called Teen Choices & Adult Consequences.

Thank you for sharing Quintin! I will definitely attend and share. 

To follow Quintin or register for his latest speaking engagement, follow Say Word, Let’s Talk About It.