Desmond Meade

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5 out of 5

President of FRRC, Voting Rights Advocate, MacArthur Fellow

Travels From Travels From:
Miami, FL, USA
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Desmond Meade Biography

Desmond Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, a graduate of Florida International University College of Law, a Ford Global Fellow, and a 2021 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow.

Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2019, Meade presently leads efforts to empower and civically re-engage local communities across the state, and to reshape local, state, and national criminal justice policies. His work has resulted in being named Floridian and Central Floridian of the Year 2019. Additionally, Meade's advocacy efforts have been pivotal in the arena of voting rights, particularly through his work to restore civil rights to returning citizens. His book "Let My People Vote: My Battle to Restore the Civil Rights of Returning Citizens" adds depth to his commitment to social justice.

As President and Executive Director of FRRC, which is recognized for its work on voting and criminal justice reform issues, Meade led the FRRC to a historic victory in 2018 with the successful passage of Amendment 4, a grassroots citizen’s initiative which restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. Amendment 4 represented the single largest expansion of voting rights in the United States in half a century and brought an end to 150 years of a Jim Crow-era law in Florida. He has also served as a Commissioner on the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice and is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice, further showcasing his commitment to impactful policy changes.

Meade has made numerous appearances on radio and television, and has spoken before national organizations such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Bread for the World. Meade has testified before Congressional members and staffers and was a part of a delegation to the United Nations where he gave testimony regarding disenfranchisement in Florida. He orchestrated a historic meeting at the White House between returning citizens and President Obama’s administration. He has appeared on numerous shows such as Al-Jazeera, Democracy NOW, MSNBC with Joy Ann Reid, FOX News with Dana Perino and Tucker Carlson, Samantha Bee, and All In with Chris Hayes. He is a guest columnist for the Huffington Post in which one of his articles about the death of Trayvon Martin garnered national attention. Meade has been featured in several newspaper and magazine articles and was chosen as a “Game Changer” by Politic 365, as well as being recognized as a “Foot Soldier” on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC.

Meade is married and has five children. His emphasis on the sacredness of voting and the importance of love in communication strategies highlight his nuanced approach to advocacy and reform.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/11/2024.

Desmond Meade Videos

  • Can't Just Preach: Desmond Meade
    In the second episode of “Can't Just Preach,” Desmond Meade shares his story of overcoming incarceration to become a social justice activist.
  • Desmond Meade & Judith Browne Dianis - 2018 Bend Toward ...
    On December 4, 2018, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights held a day-long Bend Toward Justice conference with ...
  • Voting Rights For All | Desmond Meade
    Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Desmond Meade powerfully recalls his fight to restore rights in Florida. Unrig the ...

Speaker Lists Featuring Desmond Meade

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Desmond Meade is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Desmond Meade for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Desmond Meade generally travels from Miami, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are S. Lee Merritt, Maya L. Harris, Bakari Sellers, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill and Van Jones. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Desmond Meade for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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