Ebony Underwood is a social entrepreneur, visionary leader, content creator, producer, director and founder/CEO of WE GOT US NOW.
Having experienced firsthand the devastation of over three decades of separation from her incarcerated father, Ebony was determined to center the lived expertise of children impacted by parental incarceration. In 2018 she founded WE GOT US NOW — the nation’s leading innovation hub and field catalyst transforming systems and their capacity to support children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration for as long as jails and prisons exist. It is the first organization of its kind: a U.S.-based, national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization built by, led by, and devoted entirely to this population of children and young adults. Its mission is to advance their well-being from the cradle to career. Fueled by her lived experience, this work is deeply personal and pivotal. Through WE GOT US NOW, Ebony has built innovative models of programming that span digital narratives, education, policy, and research.
Today, the organization leads the national dialogue on the well-being and urgent needs of children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration. Utilizing a strengths-based approach to ENGAGE, EDUCATE, ELEVATE & EMPOWER stakeholders, partners, allies and communities with programmatic efforts that include public education, civic engagement, awareness campaigns, strategic partnerships, leadership training, coaching, technical advisement and policy reform. The organization has developed a lauded, vetted and proven leadership curriculum that has cultivated a nationwide network of directly impacted leaders across 14 U.S. cities and states, produces the Top 10 Rated We Got Us Now Podcast, built strategic partnerships with the likes of Google, Amazon Prime Video, NIKE, The Jordan Brand, YouTube, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Sesame Workshop, and has been instrumental in the passage of 6 pieces of legislation at the local, state and federal levels that has helped to reconnect and reunify hundreds of families nationwide.
Underwood’s influence has caught the attention of several institutions. Her impressive achievements include a Proclamation from the City of New York, nominated as a Skadden Honors Fellow, Aspen Ascend Fellow, Galaxy Gives Fellow, recognized as a distinguished fellow among global leaders by the Aspen Institute IDEAS Festival, co-authored a chapter in the research publication, “Handbook on Children with Incarcerated Parents” 2nd Edition, and cited by the National Academies of Science, Engineering & Medicine . Ebony has also benefited from the mentorship of Former NYS Chief Court of Appeals Judge Judith S. Kaye and acknowledged by Fashion Nova Cares and hip hop artist Megan Thee Stallion, who nominated Ebony as a "WOMAN ON TOP" for her work and contributions. Additionally, Ebony has been published in USA Today, Yahoo News, PBS American Portrait, and has been honored with The SALUTE HER award, Arizona State University’s Champion of Child Well-Being Award and DREAM CORPS Next Step to Justice Award.
Beyond her numerous accolades, Ebony is a content creator with a passion for meaningful work. She has directed and produced a wide range of impactful content, including videos, shorts, documentaries, websites, and digital campaigns, such as "Open Plea to the President." Ebony also developed a strategic partnership with GOOGLE , leading to several community activations, and has been tapped as a digital series producer for YouTube, where she produced three iterations of the digital campaign, #LoveLetters. This campaign poignantly demonstrate the unbreakable bond between an incarcerated parent and their child on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. As a thought leader on the issue of family reunification, she was called on by U.S. Senator Cory Booker to provide technical assistance on his proposed second look legislation in Congress. She believes that, ”A Second Look offers a second opportunity to not only the incarcerated individual, but provides a second opportunity for their children and families to restore, repair, and renew those broken bonds that have been severely severed.” A particularly notable achievement is Ebony's unwavering dedication to reunifying her own family. After three decades of separation, she spearheaded the efforts for her father's compassionate release in 2021.
Ebony is a herald voice championing for the millions of children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration speaking nationally, including NBC News, Yale Law School, University of Notre Dame, Harvard School of Education, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Berkeley Law, Ohio State University, University of Miami, Columbia Law School, NYU Law School, American Law School, Missouri Western State University, Arizona State University, University of Washington, SXSW, John Jay School of Criminal Justice, Sing Sing State Correctional facility, and has been invited to the White House several times on their behalf. With a profound understanding of the uphill battle for the well-being of this historically forgotten population of children, Ebony believes, as long as there are jails and prisons in existence, there must always be an echo chamber of support to ensure that children with incarcerated parents are never forgotten. Her personal mission is to help heal and eliminate the devastating impacts of parental incarceration for children and young adults worldwide . #WEGOTUSNOW
