Meet Robert
Robert Tyrone Lilly is a speaker, author, and advocate for criminal justice reform. Born and raised in Harlem, his childhood was filled with loss, instability, and violence, leading to struggles with addiction and multiple incarcerations. While incarcerated, he began rebuilding his life through service, education, faith, and storytelling.
Transformation
In 2015, Robert earned his Bachelor’s Degree with a focus in Social Work from Abilene Christian University and currently works in the Mental Health Division of the Travis County Public Defender’s Office. He uses his more than twenty-one years of lived experience within the criminal legal system to provide compassionate, peer-based support to people navigating mental health challenges and legal barriers, offering the kind of guidance he once needed himself.
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His commitment to transformation extends beyond his professional role. Robert also serves with the Travis County Reentry Roundtable, where he helps strengthen reentry pathways and expand diversion opportunities. He has contributed to community initiatives such as Communities for Recovery and the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference Planning Committee.
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Inspiration
Robert’s journey from incarceration to leadership inspired the documentary Da’Cipher 360°, a project he started while getting his bachelors. The project has evolved to become a nonprofit dedicated to empowering men impacted by the criminal legal system.
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As an author, Robert recently published Inside Out: A Texas Prisons Poetry Story, co-authored with Lauren Oertel, a collection that explores creativity, resilience, and the power of finding one’s voice behind bars.
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Still on parole while actively leading in his community, Robert stands as a living testament of redemption and the power of second chances. Through writing, public speaking, and advocacy, he continues to use his story to inspire systemic change and support others on their path to reentry, recovery, and transformation.