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Nkechi Taifa        

Civil & Human Rights Attorney, Best-Selling Author, Scholar Activist

Nkechi Taifa is President and CEO of The Taifa Group LLC and Executive Director of the Reparation Education Project, Inc. She is an appointed board member to the Corrections Information Council and serves as Senior Fellow for the Center for Justice at Columbia University. Taifa is convener emeritus of the Justice Roundtable coalition, and past Chairperson of the DC Commission on Human Rights.

Over the course of her career, she has worked for the Open Society Foundations, ACLU, Women’s Legal Defense Fund, Howard University School of Law, National Prison Project, and Washington Office on Africa. She has taught popular seminars on Law, Race, and Justice and has litigated high-profile civil and criminal cases as a private practitioner in DC and federal court. A passionate and visionary professional, Taifa enjoys decades of experience as an accomplished justice system reform strategist as well as a reparations advocate. She excels at advancing creative, cutting-edge approaches that encourage out-of-the-box thinking and action.

The wealth of her experiences has allowed her to pursue justice from different vantage points – as a litigator, lobbyist, scholar, advocate, policy analyst, community organizer, convener, executive director and grant-maker. She received her BA from Howard University, and Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School.

Taifa is the author of five best-seller books, including “Reparations on Fire: How and Why it’s Spreading Across America,” her memoir “Black Power Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice,” as well as two books for young people banned in 2020 by the Central York, PA school district, “Shining Legacy: Story-poems for the Young So Black Heroes and Heroines Forever will be Sung,” and “Three Tales of Wisdom.” She is also the author of a children’s book primer, the “Adventures of Kojo and Ama.”

Speech Topics


Reparations: An Issue Whose Time Has Come

This powerful presentation is based off of Taifa's riveting TEDx talk of the same title. Reparations for Black people, once fringe, has now captured the imagination of faith, academic and civic groups, as well as corporations, cities, states, and the federal government. Taifa's presentation shows that reparations is fundamental to a long overdue national reckoning of race in America. This keynote presentation is essential for university lectures, boardroom discussions, and government and corporate employee educational events.

Identity, Purpose & Direction: Spread Forth Your Wings and Fly

This inspirational and entertaining presentation uses the popular parable of the baby eagle and the chickens to deliver the critical message that whatever the odds, one must have pride in oneself, coupled with perseverance, faith and trust, in order to soar to greatness. This keynote is particularly excellent for graduations as well as inspirations in the workplace.

Calling all Heroes & Heroines: Using Principles of Prosperity from the Past

In this rousing motivational presentation Taifa uses rhythmic verses from her writings that highlight leaders from the past who overcame great odds by seeing opportunities where others saw only obstacles. The keynote illuminates the principles of self-development, courage, persistence, passion, faith and action as keys to overcoming the limiting mentality of "I Can't; to the empowering mentality of "How Can I." This invigorating presentation is invaluable for conventions, universities or colleges, as well as corporate employee motivations.

News


How One Black Lawyer Went from Doubting Herself to 'Planting Seeds' for Future Generations
Nkechi Taifa is the founder and CEO of The Taifa Group LLC, a social enterprise firm on a mission to advance justice. Growing up in Washington D.C. during the height of the civil rights and Black Power movement, Taifa, 65, quickly realized she wanted to be a voice for the Black community. After earning her law degree, she went on to work for a number of progressive organizations, including the Women's Legal Defense Fund, now known as the National Partnership for Women and Girls, and the ACLU. Today, she leads the Justice Roundtable, an advocacy coalition that pushes for federal criminal justice policy reform. In September she released a memoir called Black Power, Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice. This is her story, as told to PEOPLE.
Speakers Magazine Unveils Special Black History Month Issue Featuring Nkechi Taifa, Esq.
The esteemed publication for empowering speakers and communicators, Speakers Magazine, proudly announces the release of its special Black History Month issue. This edition places the spotlight on the acclaimed advocate for justice and reparations, Nkechi Taifa, Esq., adorning the cover with her compelling presence.
Racial justice coalition demands that Biden order study of reparations
May 5, 2022 ... Nkechi Taifa, director of the Reparation Education Project, which signed Wednesday's letter, said the federal government is lagging behind state and local ...

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