Ebony Underwood is a social entrepreneur, content creator, advocate, and ASPEN Institute Ascend Fellow.
Ebony is the 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 about children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration. WIth a mission to advance the well-being of this historically invisible population of children from the cradle to young adulthood, WE GOT US NOW utilizes a strengths-based approach to ENGAGE, EDUCATE, ELEVATE & EMPOWER stakeholders and communities across systems through the use of public awareness campaigns, digital narratives, civic engagement, leadership training & coaching, safe and inclusive spaces, workforce development, educational tools and technical advisement. These activities and programs make the work visible, and ensures that the lived-expertise of this community is at the forefront of strategic initiatives, practices and policies that will address the needs of the population of children with incarcerated parents for as long as jails and prisons exist.
Ebony’s interest in this work is personal and pivotal. As a daughter of an incarcerated parent, Ebony was traumatized and emotionally devastated by her father’s incarceration, silently suffering for years. In 2014, Ebony began to speak publicly and share her story through film, television and social media advocacy. Utilizing an innovative approach of lived experience, storytelling and social media advocacy, Ebony Underwood garnered influence as a thought leader and caught the attention of several different institutions and people in the criminal justice reform space, including mentorship from the first woman to hold the NYS Chief Court of Appeals Judge Judith S. Kaye, elected to the Board of Directors of The Sentencing Project, Fashion Nova Cares and hip hop artist, Megan The Stallion nominated Ebony as a "WOMEN ON TOP" for her work to uplift & bring greater awareness to the issue of children and young adults with incarcerated parents and awarded the organization, and most recently she served as an advisor for a benefit concert in Los Angeles with proceeds from the concert going to over 25 grassroots organizations working ion social justice across the country. In January 2021, Ebony’s personal mission of family reunification was realized when her father, Bill Underwood, received a compassionate release after 33 years in federal prison.
As a Content Creator, she’s directed and produced multiple videos, shorts, documentaries, websites and digital campaigns, including, Open Plea to the President and Hope for Father’s Day about her family's ordeal. Ebony spearheaded a. partnership with GOOGLE and YouTube where she produced 3 iterations of the digital video campaign #LoveLetters featuring Oscar winning artist/ songwriter, John Legend to demonstrate the unbreakable bond between an incarcerated parent and their child on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. For two years in a row, she was tapped to produce and direct the New York Fashion Week presentations for Oak + Acorn ~ Only for the Rebelles Fashion Brand in 2020: Red, White & Indigo and 2021: The Meditation.
As a Writer, she has co-authored the chapter, About Us, For Us, With Us: Collaboration as a Key to Progress in Research, Practice & Policy in the 2nd Edition Handbook on Children with Incarcerated Parents and published op-ed articles in USA Today, Huffington Post, The Appeal, Vibe and .Mic.
As a Social Entrepreneur, her expertise has garnered local and national attention. She has been honored with a Proclamation from the City of NY for her committed work highlighting the issue of children with incarcerated parents and received the Galaxy Gives fellowship. She is featured in three books in the movement to end mass incarceration, A Knock at Midnight, Until We Reckon and The Meaning of Life. She consulted and provided technical assistance to former congresswoman Karen Bass and Senator Cory Booker on the importance of instituting Second Look legislation. Her thought leadership has been pivotal in uplifting and reunifying hundreds of impacted families across the United States.
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, National Academies of Science, Engineering & Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, UC Berkeley, Ohio State University, University of Miami, Columbia Law School, NYU Law School, American Law School, Missouri Western State University, John Jay School of Criminal Justice, Sing Sing State Correctional facility, Google, SXSW, YouTube and has been invited to the White House several times on their behalf. She was awarded the Arizona State University’s Champion of Child Well-Being , DREAM CORPS Next Step to Justice Award , the SALUTE HER Community Activist Award , and in 2022 she was recognized as a distinguished fellow amongst global leaders by the prestigious Aspen Institute IDEAS Festival. With a profound understanding of the uphill battle for family reunification, the importance of connection and well-being for this historically forgotten population of children, her personal mission is to help heal and eliminate the devastating impacts of parental incarceration for children and young adults worldwide . #WEGOTUSNOW
