Bryan Stevenson’s early schooling took place in a racially segregated environment. He was among the first generation of African Americans in his state to witness legalized integration in public schools.
In 1981, Stevenson continued his academic journey at Harvard University, where he pursued a dual degree program encompassing law and public policy at Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. It was during his tenure at Harvard that Stevenson uncovered his professional calling of practicing law.
During his second year, Stevenson seized an opportunity to intern with the Southern Center for Human Rights (Southern Center) in Atlanta. This experience exposed him to the systemic challenges faced by criminal defendants and individuals involved in capital legal cases, illuminating the disparities in legal representation.
Driven by a commitment to rectify these injustices, Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in 1994. The EJI’s mission was clear: to provide legal representation to death row inmates in Alabama, where the need for advocacy was critical.
Since its inception, the EJI has been a beacon of hope for countless individuals trapped by the criminal justice system. To date, the organization has played a pivotal role in securing the release of over 135 wrongly accused prisoners sentenced to death. He also spearheaded the creation of EJI’s acclaimed Legacy Sites, comprising the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery, Alabama.
Stevenson is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, Just Mercy, which was adapted as a major motion picture starring Jaime Foxx & Michael B. Jordan in 2019.
HELLA INSPIRED.
