The Ethics Project's 15-Year Commemorative Magazine

with Jackson Public School honor students at the National Youth Summit in Jackson MS Smith Robertson Museum

We bought into campaign slogans of "tough on crime", allowed others to designate traumatized children as criminals, then dismissed them with indifference "Do the crime, do the time " In his book, Locking Up Our Own, Crime and Punishment in Black America, one of our youth summit speakers, James Forman Jr. points to our complicity in this modern system built on the carefully crafted words of the 13th Amendment, a system that has systematically rebuilt this nation's economy and ravaged millions of lives, particularly those of African Americans

Our mission is to raise awareness of the impact of mass incarceration, to expose an injustice that replicates that of slavery, peonage, and Jim Crow, and in the words of Frederick Douglass to " ... build strong children rather than repair broken men."

Dr Griffin Photo credit Lawrence Bryant

"From its inception, The Ethics Project has had one very clear mission, to raise the bar on legal ethics to reduce the impact of mass incarceration on children, families, and communities."

that we have been willing to surrender our own sons, fathers, even mothers to reside in cages, to work for pennies on the dollars and to become the tools by which corporations build their fortunes We've been willing to watch mental illness explode on the national stage and states divert funds from mental health institutions to prisons We've seen billions of our tax dollars spent to imprison taxpayers, while our schools function on less and underpaid teachers supplement classroom needs.

Photo credit Keith Griffin II, Cover and Back Page Photo credit Keith Griffin II

TEP & THENYS

We should be outraged and yet we continue to elect politicians who allow this travesty to continue Enough I have asked the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice to investigate the Missouri Office of the Chief Disciplinary Council regarding the unjust suspension of Black attorney law licenses and the nod they give to others It is there that injustice prevails

D R . C H R I S T I G R I F F I NF O U N D E R & P R E S I D E N T

Centuries of rampant oppression have so riddled our neighborhoods with crime

Dr. Christi Griffin

Pictured: Two chairs on stage at the Smith Robertson Museum for the 2019 National Youth Summit (TheNYS) reception in Jackson MS Pictured in banner: Ken Morris Jr great great great grandson of Frederick Douglass, Chief Justice Paul Reiber of the Vermont Supreme Court, Jade Harrel, MC, and Maxine Clark, Founder, Build a Bear Corp

That injustice involved only my law license, not the very freedom that is stolen from millions and disproportion ately taken from people of color I had paid little attention to a burgeoning prison system that slowly crept into the normalcy of our lives.

The story behind

The Ethics Project was birthed 15 years ago out of an unexpected injustice that altered my life Injustice rarely announces itself As a deeply rooted part of our society's fabric, its a cancer that emerges without notice catching its victim off guard I was off guard

CONSORTIUM OF PRISON AGENCIES & MINISTRIES

SMALL BEGINNINGS

CURRENT ISSUES

TOWNHALL MEETINGS

A Vision and a Purpose OUR VISION IS A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY WHERE ALL ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE

FERGUSON

into a regional effort and eventually The National Youth Summit

The first youth summits held in four St. Louis Public schools brought together over 2000 students and 150 community leaders. Through collaborations with Forest Park Community College, area school districts and the University of Missouri St Louis, the summits grew

Students from the Prince George County Public Schools at the two day 2016 National Youth Summit on Education, Justice, and Leadership at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC The session opened with a special message from Actor David Oyelowo who portrayed Dr. King in the movie, Selma, courtesy of Paramount Pictures 2016

YOUTH SUMMITS

Through efforts with police chiefs, judges, pastors, legislators and St. Louis prosecutor well underway before the killing of Michael Brown ignited a year long protest, The Ethics Project and Dr. Griffin became leading voices during the Ferguson protest. The inaugural youth summit was held one mile from the protest site and Griffin spoke before countless group meetings, hosted Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr , held a breakfast to bridge the gap between the law enforcement leadership and protesters, participated in a PBS documentary and was interviewed by CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and numerous other national news outlets

PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL

The original Consortium, attended by the president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St Louis, Jim Buford, resulted in TEP's founder becoming one of 30 community leaders forming the Public Safety Advisory Council It was from that collaboration with the St Louis City and County Police Chiefs, the St Louis Public School Superintendent, Dr Kelvin Adams, that Griffin designed and implemented the first youth summits.

As The Ethics Project grew in prominence, becoming an award winning institution, town hall meetings were held on subjects from policing to housing

NYS Speakers Edith Lee Payne, Lynne Jackson, the great great granddaughter of Dred Scott, radio personality Jade Harrell, and Mistress of Ceremonies, Vickie Newton

Our first event was a Consortium of Prison Agencies and Ministries held at the United Way of Metropolitan St Louis in 2008 Attended by over 70 non profit executives, a panel of experts including the head of Missouri's Probation and Parole and a man exonerated after spending 25 years in prison, the successful program was held in eight other cities in six states. Attendees were enlightened about the destructive nature of our criminal justice system and created new collaborations.

The Ethics Project continues to address relevant issues, including vigilante laws, policing, gun violence, voting, and disenfranchisement

THE JUDICIARY

Tcom) he NYS Judicial Panels 2017, 2018, 2019

The judiciary plays an extremely important role in the incarceration of US citizens, a number that has grown by over 600% since the inception of private prisons in the 1984. While the decision to prosecute a particular defendant rests solely with the prosecutor, it is the judge who rules on the admission of evidence, jury instructions, application of rules of law, and often in sentencing. It is the judge who follows sentencing guidelines, approves plea agreements between prosecutors and defense counsel, and determines if a sentence will be commuted or suspended. It is also the judge's demeanor that lends to the credibility of a witness and the weight of evidence ultimately weighed by a jury.

In many instances, as with Chief Justice Lyn Stuart who presided over the Alabama Supreme Court when she served on TheNYS judicial panel at Morehouse College or Chief Justice Paul Reiber who remains the Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, our panelists have the power to significantly shape state law as members of state Supreme Courts.

Students who have participated in TheNYS have had the unique opportunity to hear from and interact with judges from juvenile court presiding judges to appellate judges sitting on their state's highest court.

Photo Credit Suzy Gorman (SuzyGorman

The Honorable Ronnie White, US District Court, (far left) and then St. Louis Health Commissioner Melba Moore greeting St Louis Public School Superintendent, Dr Kelvin Adams, at first TEP youth gang summit 2010

Lewis Reed, Aldermanic President

US Senator Claire McCaskill

Five months into the Ferguson unrest, Dr. Griffin hosted a breakfast meeting at Union Station between key religious leaders, activists, and law enforcement leadership, including Capt Ron Johnson, Head of the Unified Forces and newly appointed Missouri Public Safety Director, Dr Dan Isom 2015

Mayor Francis Slay

US Representative Lacy Clay

Former GA State Senator Charles Steele

State Senator Karla May

NYS law enforcement panel with Ferguson police leadership led by Capt Ron Johnson, Head of the Unified Forces during the Ferguson unrest. UMSL 2018

*Positions held at time of participating event Mayor Chokwe Lumumba Alderwoman Marlene Davis

TEP's first Police and Pastors' lunch to address over policing in Black commuities Seen here with the City of St Louis Chief of Police, Dr Dan Isom and the city's class of Probationary Officers A similar lunch was held for multiple police departments in St. Louis County including then Ferguson Police Chief, Thomas Jackson 2012

The following legislators (And prosecutor) have served as TEP panelists or speakers, hosted panel discussions, conducted workshops for TheNYS or advanced legislation to address the gross disparities in the treatment of African Americans in particular.

State Senator Brian Williams

State Representative Rasheen Aldridge County Executive Charlie Dooley

LEGISLATORS

State Senator Jamila Nasheed

County Prosecutor Wesley Bell

Like the judiciary, legislators and other public officials play a significant role in curtailing or contributing to mass incarceration. Be it advancing legislation to return policing to local control, addressing a broad range of issues that means the difference between increased funding for prisons and jails, or decreased funding for education, it is our legislators who make those decisions. From a member of the US Senate to local aldermen and state representatives, these individuals mean the difference between funds for non profits who address the maladies created by mass incarceration or programs to prevent the maladies in the first place.

Dr Larhonda Wilson, campaign advisor, Dr Christi Griffin, TEP Founder and President, and Attorney Wesley Bell with John Pertzborn of FOX 2 News during a press tour after Bell's historic election as the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney 2016

& POLICE

DOCUMENTARIES

The late Honorable Frankie Freeman, the first woman appointed to the US Commission on Civil Rights by President Johnson being interviewed by TEP founder and president, Christi Griffin fdocumentary, CHANGE 2014

Filming Terrell Gilkey at Washington University in St Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for a documentary on mass incarceration directed by St Louis filmmaker Denise Ward Brown 2014

Panelists from TEPs' Mother 2 Mother & Father 2 Father participated in the nationally aired PBS documentary The Talk Race in America The conversation was filmed at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis TN 2016

Ambassador Andrew Young, TEP founder & president, Christi Griffin interviewer, Victoria Bell and filmographer, Wesley Loxx and assistant, during filming for the documentary CHANGE 2014

Filming Dr Terrence Roberts, one of The Little Rock Nine at Little Rock Central High for The Ethics Project's documentary CHANGE 2014

The late Sr Antona Ebo, one of The Sisters of Selma, and film crew from Webster University School of Communications during filming of the Ethics Project's documentary, CHANGE 2014

Gentlemen of Vision performing a scene from the movie Malcolm X at the first regional youth summit at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri St Louis 2010 Photo credit Suzy Gorman

The NATIONal YOUTH SUMMIT

STEM

HISTORY

JUSTICE

"If we are to change the trajectory this nation, it is imperative that we develop leaders who are sensitive to issues of justice and have the courage and integrity to move the needle. With that goal, The National Youth Summit on Education, Justice and Leadership was initiated in 2013 in collaboration with the US Department of Justice, the University of Missouri St. Louis, and the St. Louis Public Schools. It has continued through the pandemic as a virtual event and will resume in 2023 as a hybrid in person and virtual worldwide summit "

Left to right: The NYS Hidden Figures at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson MS Monica Gilmore Love, Project Manager at Aquaterra Engineering, LLC Dr Dejonette Grantham King, President/CEO at Advanced Environmental Consultants, Inc Addie Stover, President and CEO, Stover Developments, LLC, and Nicole Adewale, Principal, ABNA Engineering Group, with NYS founder, Dr Christi Griffin and Dr Bernard Lafayette 2019

Participating NYS students posing with Ken Morris Jr, the great great great grandson of Frederick Douglass, and Lynne M Jackson, the great great granddaughter of Dred Scott at the plenary session at Jackson State University in Jackson Mississippi 2019

Author of Locking Up Our Own, Yale law professor, and keynote speaker, James Forman Jr greeting the Rev Dr C T Vivian while Dr Bernard Lafayette, Dr Terrence Roberts and Lynne Jackson look on at the King Chapel during The NYS at Morehouse College 2017

→

Chief Justice Paul Reiber, Vermont Supreme Court during a private and historic conversation with students from Jennings High School in Jennings, MO at Medgar Evers Home Museum in Jackson MS Not seen: Dr.Bernard Lafayette, close friend of Medgar Evers 2019

Students participating in a plenary session during the second NYS held at Howard University and the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC 2016

10,000 students

11 cOLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Judge Jimmie Edwards, 2013 National Judge of the Year addressing students at the University of Missouri St Louis 2011 (Photo credit Susie Gorman)

Students enjoying a meal during TheNYS opening reception at the Smith Robertson Museum in Jackson MS 2019 Photo credit Keith Griffin II

113 Faculty MEMBERS

Tom George, then Chancellor of the University of Missouri St. Louis, welcoming 1500 students to the first regional youth summit at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis. Dr. Christi Griffin stands to his right 2011 Photo credit Suzy Gorman (SuzyGorman.com)

200 Community LEADERS

3 Historical descendants

Former US Ambassador Andrew Young speaking to students during TheNYS opening reception at the Smith Robertson Museum in Jackson MS 2019 Photo credit Keith Griffin II

One of more than 200 community leaders who volunteered to work with youth during ten years of youth summits, the late Jim Buford, then President of the Urban League of Metropolitan St Louis speaks with members of the Student Leadership Corp during a summit planning meeting at the Urban League 2010

Lynne Jackson, great great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott whose lawsuits led to a Civil War and the Immancipation Proclamation with Kenneth Morris Jr great great great grandson of Frederick Douglass, reknown orator, apolitionist and author

5

Opening reception of the NYS at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta GA. From left to right: Lynne M. Jackson, great great granddaughter of Dred Scott, Rev. Dr. Charles Steele, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Dr Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine, Dr Bernard Lafayette, Freedom Rider, former SNCC Director (Selma) & Chair of the SCLC, Dr Christi Griffin, and journalist Vickie Newton 2017 Photo credit Rosalind Guy

ICONIC CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS

Past and present recipients of The Andrew Young Award including long time sponsors of TheNYS Bob Fox and Maxine Clark, presented by Lynne M. Jackson, great great granddaughter of Dred Scott (far left) and Ken Morris Jr. great great great grandson of Frederick Douglass (third from right) 2020

The Rev Dr CT Vivian a lead civil rights leader during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, receiving The Ethics Project's Lifetime Achievement Award, Seen here with NYS volunteer, Simone Phillips

Established in 2011 to recognize members of the community who exhibit outstanding ethics and commitment to family and the community, The Ethics Project's Ambassador Andrew Young Award for Outstanding Ethics, Service and Commitment to Family & Community has been presented by or on behalf of Ambassador Andrew Young to such distinguished leaders as world renown vocalist Dr. Wintley Phipps, Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice, The Honorable Paul Reiber, The Rev Dr CT Vivian, Dr Bernard Lafayette, Dr Terrence Roberts and Maxine Clark, founder of Build a Bear Corp

Passing the Torch Award presented to members of the EVAC Movement at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA Second from left, the organizations founder, Amy Donofrio 2017

Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr Bernard Lafayette with Brionna and Brooke Bennett, founders of Women In Training non profit, at the Smith Robertson Museum in Jackson MS 2019 Photo credit Keith Griffin II

THE ETHICS PROJECT'S AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG AWARD

ROTC students from Roosevelt High School in St Louis holding the first Andrew Young Awards on the stage of the Touhill Performing Arts Theater at the University of Missouri St Louis 2015 Photo credit Suzy Gorman

38 Churches & TEmples

MOTHER2MOTHER

Mother 2 Mother at Emanuel Temple in St. Louis, one of 40 such events that shed light on the daily stress Black mothers have experienced for centuries as Black men are the targets police brutality, wrongful convictions, and vigilante groups

FATHER2FATHER &

Father 2 Father panel at Holy Redeemer Church in Webster Groves, MO Left to Right: Capt. Ron Johnson, Mohammad Kamal, Alfred Long, Joseph Anderson, Chester Deanes, and Bishop Zacheriah Davis

In response to the killing of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson MO, Mother 2 Mother, a conversation between Black Mothers to White Mothers about raising Black sons in this country's climate of racial terror was held at the Missouri History Museum. Like the National Youth Summit, it was to be a one time event. It grew to include Father 2 Father and was held nearly 40 times over the course of five years and became part of a nationally aired PBS documentary, The Talk: Race in America Mother 2 Mother was also covered by ABC and referenced in the book, Ferguson & Faith written by Dr. Leah Gunning Francis shown in bottom photo.

Left to right: Dr Christi Griffin, Dr Marlowe Gaines, Rev Traci Blackmon, and Rissa Renee at the Missouri History Museum in St Louis Photo credit Wiley Price

DIVERSE PROGRAMS

Pivotng com, a mental health app designed to direct youth in crisis to mental health services developed by The Ethics Project in consultation with Dr Marva Robsinson and Cincinnati Health Commissioner Dr Melba Moore, and funded by ReCast

Townhall meetings have been a valuable tool for hearing the concerns of the community and engaging with key leaders to bring about necessary change This standing room only audience at Schlafly Library in St. Louis looks at crime, disinvestment, and the decline of targeted neighborhoods in North St. Louis. The panel included Lt. Colonel Rochelle Jones of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Alderwoman Marlene Davis, Adolphus Pruitt, President, St. Louis City NAACP, Sylvester Brown journalist and founder of the Sweet Potato Project, Gail Brown, Realtor, and Eddie Davis, 100 Black Men Moderated by Dr Griffin

David Fingal, Developer

Documentary & Panel Series in collaboration with Washington University School of Law Left to right: Dr Christi Griffin, moderator, Paul Berry, Former Chief Dan Isom, Judge David Mason, Law Enforcement Reform Advocate, Redditt Hudson, Dr Rho Thomas and Nadida Matin of Matin House

The opening reception of The National Youth Summit at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. A powerful and moving jazz program was developed and performed by The NYS music director, the renowned Dwight Andrews (flutist) and his band 2017 Photo credit Rosalind Guy

Artwork and writings from students at three St Louis Public high schools was displayed at the Dred Scott Foundation Office as part of Black History Month Their work was also displayed in the Grand Hall of the Missouri History Museum and was scheduled to have a part of the Museum's four day recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's. birthday and their Missouri Emancipation event but was canceled due to COVID. 2022

Dr Christi Griffin, author and keynote speaker, (Third from left) with other St Louis authors recognized by St. Louis City Comptroller, Darlene Green at the Missouri History Museum, along with notable authors, Dr. John Wright, historian, the late Honorable Frankie Freeman, the late Poet Laureate Shirley LeFlore, Poet, Eugene Redman, and the late Poet Laureate, Micheal Castro 2014

Robert Litan, Non resident Scholar in Economics at the Brookings Institute, attorney, economist, and author of RESOLVED Debate Can Revolutionize Education and Help Save Our Democracy

Youth Art and Writing Project on Gun Violence, Peace, & Hope

In Collaboration with Robert Litan and with funding from the Kauffman Foundation, Dr. Griffin created the DCI Summer Institute to teach middle and high school teachers across the country how to teach any subject using debate techniques. Debate coaches from the Boston Debate League, the Washington Debate League, and Argument Centered Education taught middle and high school teachers from schools across the US on the DCI technique of teaching any subject

P E R S P E C T I V E

<<< Dr. Lafayette w/ Diane Nash

Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian

This country has been shaped by the sacrifices of many. The Ethics Project has had the honor of working with giants who faced dangers, persevered, and achieved civil rights for all in this country and around the world Three have left extraordinary legacies Three continue to serve as an example of what can be achieved through sacrifice, service, perseverence and prayer

HISTORICAL

>>

"The basic purpose of human life is to serve."

PERSEVERENCE

THE POWER OF ... COURAGE AND PRAYER

Former US Ambassador, Andrew J. Young

Professor & Director of African American Studies, Amherts College

Principal Strategist, Consultant The Praxis Group

ROBERT LITAN

Principal, Phoenix Law Firm, Washington, DC

Attorney, Author, and Non resident Scholar in Economics, Brookings Institute

JEROMEHARRIS

TONY NEAL REGINALD DICKSON, CHAIR

JUDY BENTLEY

Licensed Psychologist

DR. MARVA ROBINSON

DR. TERRENCE ROBERTS

Former CEO, Inroads, Principal, BYI Investments

ANDREW J. YOUNG, ADVISOR

President, Urban Golf of Greater St Louis

Chair, SCLC, World leader in Non violence training, Strategist with Dr Martin Luther King, Jr

TEP Legal Counsel

LEON SHARPE

KIMBERLY SMITH JACKSON, ESQ.

DR.BERNARDLAFEYETTE

Founder and CEO of CHIPS Healthcare & Wellness Center

Co Founder & CEO, Educational Equity Consultants

Former US Ambassador to the UN, Former US Congressman, Former Mayor of Atlanta & Advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Founder and CEO, Andrew Young Foundation

Principal, ABNA Engineering

NICOLE ADEWALE

One of the Little Rock Nine, CEO, Roberts Management Consulting OUR BOARD

DR.STEFANBRADLEY

voluNteers

Greater St. Mark Church Christ the King Church

St Louis Public Schools, Jennings School District Jackson Public Schools, Washington DC Public Schools

DONORS

Clark | Fox Foundation McCarthy & Sons

National Civil Rights Museum

Caroline Fisher, Maxine Clark, Bob Fox, Reginald Dickson & BYW Investments, Karinn Granger, Raina Vann, Carri & Keith Griffin, David Fingal, Sophia Matthews, KC Walters, Dr Lance McCarthy, Marquita Ell, Carol Bahmueller, Adrienne Davis, Dr. Dan Isom, Danny Ludeman, Dr. Marilyn Maxwell, Linda Hancock Ross, Robert Litan, NAACP, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Meta Bodewes, Colleen Wilson, Emily Pitts, Susan and David Schwerdtfeger, Wlima Calvert, Cliff Aerie, Susan Yates, Kimberly Norwood, Colleen Wilson, Rev. Dinah Tatman, Sarah Greisbach, Linda Sumlin Aitch, Sandra Dew Gainey, Rev. Clyde Crumpton, Allison Reed, Incarnate Word Foundation, Maurice Calhoun, Juanita Tillman, Olivia College, Patricia Jones, Jill Weinreich, Marilyn Weinkauff, Patricia Jones, Akua Ambonyse, Rev Traci Blackmon, Lauren Ming, Ade Sodepo, Alfred Long, Angee Turner, Eleanor Pardini, Shalita Winters, Colleen Wald, Linda Smith, Leon Sharpe, Tom Schweitzer, Sidney Edwards Cole, Dr Jody Squires, Chief John Hayden, Nadida Matin, Muhammad Kamal, LaDonna Parker, Eric Banks Hatsephia Kushma, In Kind Services: Joe Conway, Wesley Daniels, Karon Bolden, Julienne Malveaux, Dr Ivory Toldson, Rosalind Guy, Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Terrence Roberts, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Rev. Dr. CT Vivian, Hezechiah Watkins, Rev. Dr. Dwight Andrews

Jade Harrell, Donna Rogers Beard*, Angela Thames*, Marlo Gaines, Nadida Matin*, Muhammad Kamal, Rev David Denoon, Tango Jackson, Sandra Ford, Rev Dr Leah Gunning Francis, Prof. Kimberly Norwood*, Nicholas Taggart Long*, Carol Weir, Tom Schweitzer, Karon Bolden, Vicki C. Washington*, Julianne Malveaux, Tony Neal*, Kevin Young, Dr. Marva Robinson, *donors

St. Louis Public Library Washington University School of Law Clark Fox Forum

SCHOOLS

Mildred Bastian Theater