Meet Eddie Ellis

Eddie B. Ellis, Jr. is a champion for change. This native Washingtonian is a youth activist and motivational speaker. His lived experience as a former convict provides an insight and depth into his work that allows him to connect with and engage audiences.

Mr. Ellis's professional experience, certifications and training allow him to serve as a resources to the community. He has written and published several resource guides offering service referrals, practical tips and inspiration to former offenders and parolees resettling into the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Reflecting on the choices in his life, Mr. Ellis also created the The People That We Hurt On The Outside Seminar, a CD-ROM tool that can be used to help both youth and young adults understand how their choices and incarceration can affect their relationships with those on the outside and how to rebuild and repair those relationships.

Want to learn more about One by 1's CEO? Watch the Out for Good trailer, which provides clips from the full-length documentary based on Mr. Ellis's life experiences since returning home from prison.  
Professional Experience
Mr. Ellis has spoken to students and professionals as part of conferences, forums, panels, readings, and other speaking engagements in various settings, including:
  • Universities, such as American University, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Marymount University, Howard University, Winston Salem State University and Middlebury University;
  • High Schools, including Wilson High School, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and Milton Hershey School (PA); and 
  • Organizations and companies, like Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), DreamCity Theatre Group, Potomac Job Corporation and Rivers Correctional Institution.

Certifications & Trainings
Mr. Ellis has participated in and successfully fulfilled all requirements for completion of the following certification and training programs and workshops:
  • "Building Healthy Communities", 2011 - National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)
  • "Emerging Leadership", 2010 - NLADA
  • "Community First: Client Leadership for Justice", 2010 - NLADA
  • Certification in Peer Mentoring, 2010 - CSOSA
  • "Offender Employment Specialist Training", 2008 - U.S. Probation Office
  • "Faith Based Initiative Mentoring Certificate", 2007- CSOSA
  • Workshop on Intentionality in Public Life, 2010 - Harwood Institute

A Personal Story of Survival

Eddie Ellis was just a kid in the streets when he was arrested and sentenced to a 15-year prison term. After his release, he founded One by 1, Inc. and now uses his lived experience to build safer communities. He develops and provides workshops to at-risk youth to help them develop the life, leadership, and decision-making skills they need to stay in school and out of trouble. He also develops resources to support the successful reentry of men and women from incarceration back into their communities.

Though Eddie can't change the choices he made in his youth, he works hard everyday to ensure that today's youth are equipped to make better choices than he did and that people who also made mistakes in the past are prepared to reenter society and do better.
One by, 1 Inc., P.O. Box 452 Olney, MD 20830
[email protected]