02/24/2026
We recognize Bryan Stevenson for his alignment with the value of being a Social Justice Leader.
Bryan Stevenson is lawyer, activist, law professor, and founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). He aims to challenge biases against the poor, minorities, and children who are within the criminal justice system. The EJI collaborates with law schools, regional bar associations, and community legal programs to expand legal education and pro bono defense work throughout the American South. Stevenson’s 2014 book turned movie adaptation, Just Mercy, brought mainstream attention to his career defending disadvantaged clients and the inherent injustices they faced within the United States judicial system. In speaking up when others are quiet, Bryan Stevenson puts
social justice into action and highlights the idea that each person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.
