About The Ethics Project
At the intersection of justice, community healing, and civic responsibility.
Our History
The Ethics Project is a multi-award-winning nonprofit organization working at the intersection of justice, community healing, and civic responsibility. Founded in 2007 to address the complex challenges surrounding crime, public safety, and trust within the justice system, the organization brings together leaders from law enforcement, education, mental health, faith communities, legislation, and civic institutions to develop practical solutions that strengthen communities.
For nearly two decades, The Ethics Project has served as a convening force, creating spaces where difficult issues can be examined honestly and where collaboration can replace division. Through forums, youth programs, public conversations, and strategic partnerships, the organization works to elevate ethical leadership, strengthen accountability, and support communities most affected by crime and violence.
A cornerstone of this work has been the National Youth Summit on Education, Justice, and Leadership, which has brought together thousands of students, scholars, and national leaders to explore the connections between education, opportunity, and justice. The organization has also launched initiatives such as the Youth Art and Writing Project on Gun Violence, Peace, and Hope, giving young people meaningful opportunities to express their experiences and participate in shaping solutions.
Today, The Ethics Project is expanding its work through the Center for Relational Healing, an initiative focused on bringing trauma-informed practices such as Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) to the region. By equipping educators, caregivers, law enforcement, and community leaders with evidence-based tools, the organization seeks to address the root causes of trauma and violence while strengthening the relationships that help children and families thrive.
At its core, The Ethics Project believes that meaningful change occurs when communities come together with a shared commitment to ethics, accountability, and human dignity. By fostering dialogue, advancing evidence-based practices, and investing in young people, the organization works to build safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.
Founder and President
Dr. Christi Griffin
Author | Speaker | Leader
The Ethics Project Founder and President, Christi Griffin, received her Juris Doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law and immediately opened her private law practice as a ministry. She headed one of the largest consumer bankruptcy law firms in the State of Missouri until 2007. When faced with the realities of a broken legal system, Dr. Griffin proved with unequivocal evidence the degree of ethics that guided her law practice for 23 years.
Following her experience with the Missouri Bar and Missouri Supreme Court, disclosing the existence of broad misconduct on the part of the prosecutor, hearing officers, attorneys, and judges, Dr. Griffin began The Ethics Project to reduce wrongful prosecutions and convictions by educating the public about professional ethics.
The now multiple-award-winning organization has evolved to include consortiums of agencies and ministries who serve various populations affected by crime, including offenders, ex-offenders, children of incarcerated parents, abused women, victims and the community as a whole, Youth Gang Summits, Leadership Workshops, Youth Empowerment Forums, collaboration with Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of slain human right leader, El-Hajj Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X), Lynne M. Jackson, the great, great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and nationally acclaimed speaker, author and CNN contributor, Victor Woods.
She has spearheaded Mother 2 Mother, A conversation with Black Mother to White about the talk Black mothers have with their sons. That effort rapidly grew to include Father 2 Father, Man 2 Man and Face 2 Face, a Conversation with Legislators and Policy Makers about the challenges faced by African-American men in America. A special Parent 2 Parent filmed for PBS at the National Civil Rights Museum in April 2016, was aired nationally by PBS. The film, The Talk, Race in America can be viewed at PBS.org. Intended as a one-time event, demand for the conversations continued for five years became a significant tool in bridging the racial divide in the St. Louis region.
The 2011 collaboration with U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, former top adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., resulted in Griffin establishing The Ethics Project’s Ambassador Andrew Young Award for Outstanding Ethics, Service, and Commitment to Family and Community. The award, personally presented by Ambassador Young is given to members of the community who exhibit exceptional ethics in the execution of their efforts as well as an unequivocal commitment to their family and community.
Dr. Griffin was a founding member of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Public Safety Advisory Council, the Advisory Committee of the Charles Sumner Preparatory Charter High School, the St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence (SIRV) and the St. Louis Area Voting Initiative. In 2010, Griffin designed, chaired and implemented the St. Louis City Youth/Gang Summits in the four St. Louis Public Schools Comprehensive High Schools. She is a frequent speaker and panelist at churches, schools and community organization functions.
Dr. Griffin is a three-time recipient of the President’s Call to Service Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award. She has also been named one of five 2011 Outstanding Women of Achievement Award by the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation, a 2014 Women of Leadership by the Urban League of St. Louis, and was named a 2016 Power 100 recipient by Delux Magazine. Her most treasured honor was the 2017 – 2018 Recognition for Ongoing Commitment to Excellence presented by the Midwest Region Black Law Student Association. In 2024, Griffin was named to Who’s Who in America.
Griffin is a Blue Ribbon Toastmaster Speaker, guest columnist for the St. Louis American Newspaper, author of 21 Days to Joy, A Daily Devotional for Finding Joy and Incarcerations in Black and White: The Subjugation of Black America.