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  • Michael Yam’s Mission to Empower Readers with His Children’s Book ‘Fried Rice and Marinara’

Stories

August 11, 2023

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Michael Yam, the host of NFL Total Access on NFL Network, has now ventured into the world of children’s books with his first-ever creation, “Fried Rice and Marinara.”

This heartwarming tale revolves around Mikey Yam, a character just like Michael, who cherishes both his Chinese and Italian heritage. Michael wrote this story to show young readers that it’s okay to have a diverse background and to be proud of who they are.

Drawing inspiration from his own life, Michael wanted to share the joy of embracing different cultures with children. In “Fried Rice and Marinara”, he uses the magic of food to bring the story to life and spark curiosity about diverse backgrounds. Through this delightful book, Michael hopes to encourage kids to learn about their own heritage and appreciate the uniqueness of others.

As a first-time children’s book author and illustrator, Michael faced some challenges, but his passion for storytelling and connecting with young readers drove him forward.

Read through as we learn more about Michael and how he aims to inspire all children to feel confident in their identities with his book “Fried Rice and Marinara”, through an interview with Asian Hustle Network.

BREAKING BARRIERS WITH “FRIED RICE AND MARINARA”

During the course of my career, I have been fortunate enough to speak to students about a path in broadcasting. I have always been disheartened by the lack of Asian representation in media classes. Aside from cultural factors, I believe the lack of widespread representation at high levels of sportscasting is a major reason why Asian American students are picking other career paths.

Strengthening the pipeline is one of the ways I think this changes. If young kids can see themselves in stories, I think it can spark an interest in storytelling. 

MIKEY YAM AS A MULTIETHNIC LEAD CHARACTER

As a kid, I didn’t think anything of the different cultures. I always knew I was Chinese and Italian, but as I got older, I realized that my friends didn’t have to think about or balance multiple cultural experiences that were very different.

Part of the reason I wanted to write “Fried Rice and Marinara” was to have young readers see a multiethnic character in a lead role. I also wanted to spark the thought that families with diverse backgrounds are normal.

At times in my childhood, I thought I had to “pick a side”, which is weird to think about now. I really want young kids to be able to embrace their heritage and be proud of their background. I know for my family, food was a backdrop to everything we did. I wanted to use cuisine as a vehicle to bring the story to life.

NAVIGATING BOTH SIDES OF HIS HERITAGE

First and foremost, it’s about embracing both cultures. I think many people focus on the differences between ethnicities, but we would all be in a better place if we gravitated to what’s the same.

Both my Chinese and Italian sides value family and the joy that comes from spending time with each other. I have fond memories of BBQs as a kid and my birthday parties having both Italian and Chinese food. 

CHALLENGES HE FACED IN THE WRITING PROCESS

I’ve spent my career telling the stories of athletes. I’m comfortable in that realm, but with “Fried Rice and Mariana”, it’s the first time I tried to connect with a young audience in a medium I’ve never worked in.

I have always loved having fun with my nieces and nephews, telling them crazy stories at home. I tried to imagine telling them this story as if we were in person. No, I can’t rhyme on the fly like in the book, but it’s about the tone.

I always love asking kids questions to see where their mind goes. If you notice at the back of the book, there is a page that gives kids an opportunity to write their funky food combinations with the ability to draw them, too. It’s really important to me that the experience with the book doesn’t end when they’re finished reading it. 

WHAT HE HOPES FOR READERS TO TAKE FROM HIS BOOK

I want young Asian readers to be able to see themselves as a main character in a story.

According to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin (2022) you are nearly as likely (39% BIPOC/37% Animal/Object) to see a children’s story about an animal or object than you are to see a story depicting a character from a diverse background. I see that as a problem. 

I want all children to be exposed to various cultures. The child who doesn’t often get to see characters who look like them will hopefully feel confident and have more self-worth. My hope is other children will be exposed to other cultures and develop an appreciation for experiences different from their own.  

CONNECT WITH MIKE YAM

Instagram: @Mike_Yam

Twitter: @Mike_Yam

Threads: @Mike_Yam

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From Prison to Purpose: How Tuan Huynh Brewed Redemption Into VietFive Coffee

When you walk into VietFive Coffee in Chicago’s West Loop, the first thing you notice isn’t the rich aroma of Vietnamese Robusta beans. It’s the energy. Strangers sit shoulder-to-shoulder, conversations spark, and a sense of belonging fills the air. For founder Tuan Huynh, this space is far more than a café. It’s proof that redemption is real.

Tuan didn’t set out to build a coffee brand. He set out to rewrite a life story that once seemed destined to end behind prison walls. Today, he’s not just serving bold coffee; he’s serving hope, heritage, opportunity, and community.

The Darkest Chapter

Tuan’s early life was marked by conflict. Born in Vietnam, his family fled to the U.S. when he was just three years old, carrying little more than hope for a better future. They settled in government housing, where poverty pressed down on daily life. Like so many kids searching for belonging, Tuan got swept into the culture of gangs and drugs. At just 18 years old, barely an adult, his life took a devastating turn.

Convicted of first-degree murder, Tuan was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. He spent the next decade and a half in Lansing Correctional Facility, one of the country’s maximum-security prisons.

Prison has a way of stripping people of their identity. For many, it cements a cycle of despair. But for Tuan, it became the crucible where transformation began. “Even in the darkest places,” he says, “I knew my story wasn’t finished.”

Choosing Creativity Over Despair

Inside those walls, during the latter half of his prison experience, Tuan chose to reimagine his life. He leaned into art and design, creative outlets that gave him purpose and revealed a talent for visual storytelling. Every sketch, every concept was an act of defiance against the idea that his future had already been written.

When he was finally paroled on June 21st, 2011, a date and time he still recalls with reverence, Tuan stepped into a world that had changed beyond recognition. He was a free man, but freedom didn’t come with an instruction manual. He carried the stigma of incarceration, the weight of lost time, and the daunting task of rebuilding from scratch.

A Door Opens in the Most Unexpected Place

Determined not to waste his second chance, Tuan pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Conceptual Design. His portfolio caught the attention of the world’s largest advertising agency, which offered him a role in Chicago. For a refugee kid who had once been told he would never amount to anything, it was validation.

But something was still missing. After eight years in advertising, Tuan felt the pull of something deeper, something personal. On a trip back to Vietnam, the first since leaving as a child, he discovered his family’s legacy: generations of farmers cultivating Robusta coffee. That revelation ignited a vision.

Coffee, he realized, could be the perfect medium. It wasn’t just a drink. It was heritage, resilience, and connection poured into a cup. And with that, VietFive was born.

Tuan Huynh (right) with his uncle

Building VietFive Against All Odds

Launching a business as a formerly incarcerated person was no small feat. Doors closed before Tuan could step through them. Banks hesitated, investors doubted, and skeptics assumed his past would define his future. But Tuan refused to let rejection write his story.

Instead, he built VietFive from the ground up, importing beans from his family’s farm, shaping the brand through design, and pouring his heart into creating not just a business, but a movement.

VietFive is vertically integrated, meaning Tuan controls the process from farm to cup. That ensures authenticity, quality, and fair practices. But more than that, it provides every sip tells a story. A story of Vietnamese resilience. A tale of personal redemption.

The Power of Representation

For Tuan, VietFive is not just about coffee. It’s about representation. Too often, the stories of immigrants, refugees, and formerly incarcerated people are missing from mainstream narratives. By building VietFive, Tuan created a stage where those voices can’t be ignored.

“When people drink our coffee,” he says, “I want them to taste more than flavor. I want them to taste legacy, survival, and pride.”

That representation extends to the community VietFive has built. Walk into the café, and you’ll see it as a true “third space” where all are welcome. From business leaders to students, from immigrants to lifelong Chicagoans, VietFive has become a gathering point for connection.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

Tuan’s proudest achievement isn’t revenue numbers, though VietFive is on track to approach seven figures this year. His real pride is seeing familiar faces return, watching conversations unfold, and knowing that his café has become a home for many.

The struggles he faced, incarceration, rejection, and underrepresentation, didn’t vanish. But he reframed them. Each obstacle became a stepping stone, each “no” a chance to persist, each bias an opportunity to prove that transformation is possible.

In Tuan’s words, “VietFive is not just about beans. It’s about belonging.”

A Vision for the Future

Tuan’s mission is clear: to elevate Vietnamese Robusta on the global stage, to create spaces of connection, and to rewrite narratives that society often overlooks. He envisions VietFive not only as a coffee brand but as a global movement rooted in heritage and social impact.

For the Asian community, VietFive stands as an affirmation, proof that their culture, history, and voices belong at the table. For those who carry the weight of incarceration or failure, it’s a beacon of hope that broken beginnings can lead to beautiful new chapters.

Redemption in Every Cup

At its core, VietFive is more than coffee. It’s a story of redemption steeped into every brew. It’s the story of a refugee child who stumbled, a prisoner who refused despair, and an entrepreneur who now builds bridges where walls once stood.

When you sip VietFive, you’re not just tasting Robusta, you’re tasting resilience. You’re part of a narrative that proves our past does not define our future.

As Tuan Huynh himself puts it: “VietFive is my second chance in a cup. And I want every person who walks through our doors to feel that same possibility, that no matter where you’ve been, there’s always a way forward.”

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