Servant Leader

Beginning in 2007, Christi Griffin has led the conversation on the challenging issues of mass incarceration, over policing, political and legal ethics, crime and public safety, and student leadership and excellence. As an attorney, she fought valiantly and ethically to defend and represent her clients. As a social activist, she continues the same advocacy in the community through The National Youth Summit, Mother 2 Mother, Father 2 Father, Man 2 Man Conversations, workshops, panels, and documentaries.

In her relentless quest for justice and service to others has led Griffin to work with such leaders leaders as U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, top advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of slain human rights leader, Malcolm X, Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine, Captain Ron Johnson, head of the unified forces during the Ferguson unrest, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, esteemed Selma voting rights leader, Lynne Jackson, the great, great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott, and nationally acclaimed speaker and CNN contributor, Victor Woods.

Advocating for justice has meant crossing paths with some of the country’s most accomplished leaders.

In recognition of other individuals around the country who have dedicated their lives to serving others, Griffin established The Ethics Project’s Ambassador Andrew Young Award for Outstanding Ethics and Service to Family and Community. To date, Ambassador Young has presented the award to over 30 deserving individuals.

Advocate

Griffin’s dedication to changing the landscape of an overly punitive society has prompted a number of initiatives.   In the nearly ten years since the inception of The Ethics Project, she has built a strong board of directors of influential leaders

• Conducted consortiums of prison agencies and ministries throughout the United States.

• Worked with judges and prosecutors to reduce crime and find alternatives to convictions

• Bridged gaps between the community and police through various efforts including the Ad Hoc Committee on Policing.

• Developed the Safe Stop Card with then St. Louis Police Chief, Dan Isom to reduce incidences of conflicts during police stops

• Launched the Vote for Me Campaign to empower disenfranchised voters to encourage eligible voters to register and vote in each election.

• Worked with national and community leaders to inspire thousands of youth and adults by designing and implementing Youth Gang Summits, The National Youth Summit, The Youth Empowerment Forum, leadership and community workshops,

• Conducted panel discussions, including one with the former Chief Judge of the Missouri Supreme Court, former Chief Judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, a former police officer and NAACP regional director, a formerly incarcerated national author and speaker and, a former US Attorney. The panel discussion was accompanied by a photo exhibit, Incarcerations in Black and White, that depicted the impact incarcerations have on a community. The program was presented to a packed house at The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis.

• Hosted the Police and Pastors Lunch in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County to generate understanding about the over policing in African American communities.

• Participated in documentaries regarding injustice, race, and policing, including the PBS documentary, The Talk – Race in America.

• Was a balanced voice of leadership during the Ferguson unrest

• Developed the Mother 2 Mother, Father 2 Father, Man w Man and Parent 2 Parent platforms to bring attention to the challenges Black parents face racing children in a privileged and racial America.

• Developed The Ethics Project’s Ambassador Andrew Young Award for Outstanding Ethics, Service and Commitment to Family and Community to recognize and encourage ethics and service to better our communities. Since 2011, the award has been presented by Ambassador Young to over 25 community leaders, educators and students

“I first witnessed Dr. Christi Griffin giving a brief synopsis of a book when I was in a Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. She was giving a book review and her take on it. She was such a profound speaker that you could literally hear a pin drop. This is how in tune people were with her. It was very brief, but I always remembered it because it was so powerful. A few months ago, I received word that Dr. Griffin would be doing a forum at The Missouri History Museum dealing with over-incarceration in America. I’ve always remembered Dr. Griffin because of her passion for helping our youth and her ability to fluently and effectively get her point across, so I attended. The forum was phenomenal! I was so enlightened with the information and extremely impressed with her speaking ability as I knew I would be. I was so impressed that I immediately took the information back to my Pastor for him to consider having her to speak at our church. Needless to say, he was excited and completely sold. Dr. Griffin is a speaker that would complement any organization, church or business.” — CJS

In memory of my mother, Caroline Moss Fisher, TEP board member, educator, and Missouri Pioneer in Education, seen here receiving The Ethics Project’s Ambassador Andrew Young Life Time Achievement Award from Andrew Young.  Her example to me, avid support of The Ethics Project and dedication to education were immeasurable.

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