Ebony Underwood is a social entrepreneur, content creator, producer, thought leader, and founder/CEO of WE GOT US NOW.
She founded WE GOT US NOW as the first of its kind — U.S. based, national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization built by, led by and devoted to children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration. Its mission is to advance the well-being of children with incarcerated parents from the cradle to career. As a daughter of an incarcerated parent, this work is personal and pivotal to Ebony, having experienced firsthand the devastation of three decades of separation from her father. Traumatized and emotionally devastated by her father’s incarceration, she silently suffered for years. In 2014, she gained the courage to speak publicly.
Fueled by her lived experience, she utilized an innovative approach of sharing her story through digital narratives, social media, education, and research. In 2018, Ebony founded and officially launched WE GOT US NOW.
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, public 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 25 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 research featured in the 2nd Edition Handbook on Children with Incarcerated Parents, 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 accolades, Ebony is a staunch supporter for family reunification and has directed and produced numerous videos, shorts, documentaries, websites, and digital campaigns, including Open Plea to the President and spearheading a partnership with GOOGLE and YouTube where she produced 3 iterations of the digital video campaign #LoveLetters to 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 tapped 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
