Khalil Osiris

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Khalil Osiris (born May 31, 1959) is an African-American professor, author,[1][2][3] speaker, activist, entrepreneur, filmmaker, and social impact consultant.[4][5] He is the Founder of Truth & Reconciliation Conversations (TRC)[6] and Reflecting Freedom Network (RFN).[7] Osiris is an international speaker who conducts talks on various topics, including Racial Reconciliation, the Psychology of Incarceration, and A Freedom That Comes From Within.[8][9]

Khalil Osiris

Early Life and Education

Osiris grew up in America and was recruited into the Black Panther Party movement.[10] He spent 20 years in prison,[11][12] completing his bachelor's and Master of Liberal Arts degrees from Boston University.[13][8][14] During incarceration, Osiris became pen pals with Nelson Mandela's eldest daughter, Makaziwi Mandela.[15][16] Under the aegis of the All African People's Revolutionary Party, he organized prisoner study groups and coordinated a series of lectures for prisoners by community leaders.[17] He was released from prison in 1999.

Career

In 2011, Osiris moved to South Africa. He worked in different countries and trained educators on positive behavioral interventions and supports. Osiris hosted the South African TV show Each One, Teach One,[13] which won the 2016 South African Film & Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Factual Educational Program.[8][18]

Osiris is the author of Psychology of Incarceration and A Freedom That Comes From Within.[3] The forewords to Osiris's books were written by Elaine Brown, the only woman Chairman of the Black Panther Party,[12] and Dumani Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, respectively. His book, A Freedom That Comes From Within, can be downloaded for free at khalilosiris.com.

Osiris was an Adjunct Professor at Wright State University (WSU) (Dayton, Ohio).[17][19][20] His book, Psychology of Incarceration, has been used for 10+ years as the primary text for the course at WSU. He and his co-author, Robin Herman, taught the course to educators, correctional professionals, incarcerated citizens, and WSU students. Psychology of Incarceration is a restorative justice program and an academic course.

Osiris's restorative justice program is taught at 70+ prisons throughout America.[9] His message is that "prison is a metaphor for self-imposed limitations and freedom is a choice."

Osiris is a Trainer at Jobs For Humanity.[21][22] He was a one-time member of the Black Panther Party for self-defense and found himself locked into America's criminal justice system at 17 and wasn't paroled until his 40s.[23]

Osiris delivered a final keynote speech at Hiring Success EU 2019.[23] In 2020, he was featured as a keynote speaker in the Spirit of Giving Awards virtual event.[7]

He appeared in podcasts, including Swan Dive.[24]

Activism

Osiris founded Truth & Reconciliation Conversations (TRC),[25] a nonprofit organization committed to advancing racial reconciliation and the rights of women and girls through meaningful dialogue and action. As a charity, it promotes racial reconciliation and gender equality and provides free access to web-based, accredited education for non-traditional learners, including Justice-involved youth and adults.[26][6]

The organization announced its membership with the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. Through its global initiatives, the Council for Inclusive Capitalism is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive, sustainable, and trusted economic system that attends to humanity's and the environment's needs. Osiris views this collaboration as a significant stride towards fostering a fairer, more inclusive global economy, aligning with TRC's mission to promote truth, reconciliation, and inclusivity.[27]

His experience as a formerly incarcerated citizen inspired him to found the Reflecting Freedom Network (RFN).[28][29] He is also the Founder of the Circle of Courage Mentoring Program.[30][31][32]

In 2019, Osiris partnered with Jacksonville University (JU), the NFL Alumni, and the Jacksonville Jaguar Foundation to launch the first Nelson Mandela International Day observance in Jacksonville, Florida. At the event, Makaziwe Mandela, the eldest daughter of Nelson Mandela, was presented with the Global Citizen Award by Tim Cost, the President of JU.[18][33] In the ceremony, Osiris was among the featured speakers.[33] He is a board member of the House of Mandela Family Foundation.[34][35][36]

Osiris's work on racial reconciliation led to the creation of a documentary film, Five Commitments: Truth & Reconciliation Conversations Documentary,[37] that he premiered two months after the murder of George Floyd (2020). It features individuals from diverse backgrounds having difficult conversations about justice and social reckoning. On the following first anniversary of Floyd's murder, he released a short film about the people and community that came together to celebrate his life.[38]

Osiris released a third film at the virtual 2021 TRC Global Summit held on July 18-19 in honor of Nelson Mandela International Day. Building on the impact of the Summit, he launched the TRC Pledge campaign and Orange Couch Conversations course to galvanize youth around the world to end gender-based violence (GBV) through civic education and activism.[18]

Enrollment in the Orange Couch Conversations course is year-round and free. Students may apply for a scholarship to earn academic credit and transfer to their local school to learn how to prevent GBV where they live. In 2022, Osiris partnered with Roy Jones Jr, Jodi Solomon Boxing, and King Africa Radio in South Africa for Seconds Out, "A Tribute to Women and Girls."[1] an annual event to raise awareness about domestic and GBV and galvanize support for victims. Proceeds from the annual event go to the South African nonprofit organization Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (ADAPT) to support their partnership with TRC at local schools.[34]

According to Osiris, "Boxing is a fantastic sport to educate young boys in particular about the difference between disciplined, healthy behavior as opposed to the violent habits that characterize GBV and other abusive relationships."

Mandela Media, DMA United, and Truth & Reconciliation Conversations (TRC)

In 2023, Osiris formed a partnership with Mandela Media, DMA United, and Truth & Reconciliation Conversations (TRC) and launched the Second Chance eBook Series, a groundbreaking initiative to promote social justice and second chance employment.

This unique collaboration stems from a deep-rooted friendship that began in 1986 while Dr. Phumla Makaziwe Mandela, Nelson Mandela's daughter, was studying at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Khalil Osiris was undertaking studies at Boston University from prison. Khalil, now a Senior Advisor at DMA United and Mandela Media and founder of TRC, is the driving force behind this remarkable project.

More than 80 million Americans have a criminal record, surpassing any ethnic minority group. The Second Chance eBook Series aims to share the stories of justice-impacted individuals, nonprofit leaders, and forward-thinking employers dedicated to creating an inclusive workforce.[13]

Bibliography

  • Psychology of Incarceration, 2004, Foreword by Elaine Brown[39]
  • A Freedom That Comes From Within, 2018, Foreword by Dumani Mandela[40]
  • Tlc - Talking and Listening with Care: A Communication Guide for Singles and Couples, 2002[41]
  • Psychology of Incarceration program in prisons, FMS Productions[28]

Awards and Recognition

  • ABC Community Advocate of the Year, Atlanta Black Chambers[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.africanews.com/2019/01/29/interview-a-freedom-that-comes-from-within/
  2. ↑ https://www.nola.com/news/politics/new-orleans-recreation-commission-hears-pleas-for-more-programs/article_5b44aab3-3886-55da-b244-0de6602deda5.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.africanews.com/2019/01/29/interview-a-freedom-that-comes-from-within//
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.instagram.com/p/CuCPIXVOgSJ/
  5. ↑ https://www.espeakers.com/marketplace/profile/47008/preview
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.inclusivecapitalism.com/organization/truth-reconciliation-conversations-trc/
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2020/dec/21/federal-bar-presents-spirit-of-giving-awards/
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://www.fmsproductions.com/presenters/khalil-osiris.html
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://www.athensdemocracyforum.com/about/our-team/advisory-board/khalil-osiris/
  10. ↑ https://cliffcentral.com/gc-blog/man-to-man/
  11. ↑ https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2019/07/05/nelson-mandelas-daughter-granddaughter-to-visit-st-augustine/4755439007/
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://findingaids.library.emory.edu/documents/brown912/series3/
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 https://www.sabceducation.blogspot.com/2015/02/professor-khalil-osiris-offers-each-one.html
  14. ↑ https://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-22-the-power-of-a-positive-mind/
  15. ↑ https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/jacksonville-ex-con-invites-nelson-mandelas-family-to-first-coast/77-97ba72f2-2b3d-4e67-83f0-ea8ef2e8495c
  16. ↑ https://www.heraldextra.com/special-section/2020/mar/26/prisons-without-bars-how-thoughts-keep-people-locked-up/
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 https://www.columbia.edu/cu/ccbh/acjp/initiatives/acjpconf_panel.html
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 https://khalilosiris.com/biography/
  19. ↑ https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2007/04/30/foundation-to-honor-man-freed/24048953007/
  20. ↑ https://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/erarchive/2004/March/march%2022/3_22_04herstory.html
  21. ↑ https://www.jobsforhumanity.com/training/returning-citizens/
  22. ↑ https://totalent.eu/exclusive-jobs-site-launched-for-returning-citizens-judgement-stops-where-understanding-starts/
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/day-two-hiring-success-eu/
  24. ↑ https://www.buzzsprout.com/957886/7235479
  25. ↑ https://www.prlog.org/12928333-tribute-to-women-and-girls-in-the-ongoing-fight-to-end-gender-based-violence-gbv.html
  26. ↑ https://reflectingfreedomnetwork.com/our-team/
  27. ↑ https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/news/pr-zen/trc-joins-council-for-inclusive-capitalism
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 https://www.fmsproductions.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=+psychology+of+incarceration
  29. ↑ https://www.news4jax.com/video/morning-show/2021/03/11/removing-waiting-period-for-convicted-felons-civil-rights-eligibility-/
  30. ↑ https://ewn.co.za/2013/10/02/521-teachers-exposed-to-verbal-abuse
  31. ↑ https://www.deseret.com/2012/12/19/20511401/rebirth-from-ashes-new-film-captures-new-orleans-radical-school-reforms
  32. ↑ https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_cdb3b0d2-a4f6-5fcd-b8ba-e7ac03f5c78e.html
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 https://wavemagazineonline.com/dr-makaziwe-mandela-celebrates-international-nelson-mandela-day-at-ju/
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 https://www.costanavarino.com/news/costanavarino/democracy-and-spirituality-weekend-in-costa-navarino/
  35. ↑ https://www.news4jax.com/news/2019/07/19/mandelas-daughter-continuing-fathers-work-of-inclusion-equality/
  36. ↑ https://trconversations.com/trc-ambassadors/
  37. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15988006/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
  38. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15988498/?ref_=ra_gb_ln
  39. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Incarceration-Distortion-State-Belonging/dp/0972383670
  40. ↑ https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Freedom_That_Comes_from_Within.html?id=i9dMvQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
  41. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/TLC-Talking-Listening-Care-Communication-Singles/dp/0971900485
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