Khalil Osiris

Khalil Osiris is an international speaker whose inspiring talks teach people to break free from their self-imposed limitations.

Mr. Osiris spent 20 years in prison and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boston University during his incarceration. He transformed his life and emerged from prison with a deep understanding of how to use personal crises and challenges as opportunities for self-improvement.

Mr. Osiris is the founder of Truth & Reconciliation Conversations (TRC), which advocates for racial reconciliation, women's rights, and second chances, fostering dialogue that leads to action. He is also the founder of Reflecting Freedom Network (RFN), a nonprofit organization started with a community of individuals committed to building public-private sector partnerships to promote economic and social justice through education, career development and innovative skills training. RFN's mission is to provide accessible, affordable pathways for people to build freedom and opportunities for success together.

A passion for restorative justice has inspired his 30 years of experience developing programs used in prisons and communities in the United States and South Africa. His re-entry program, “Psychology of Incarceration,” has been used in over 70 prisons across the U.S. He moved to South Africa in 2011 and, for the next seven years, worked as a consultant in schools and prisons. He hosted a popular TV show, “Each One, Teach One,” which won the 2016 South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for best factual educational program.

In July 2019, Mr. Osiris organized the first citywide Nelson Mandela International Day observances in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Florida. Supported by the Jacksonville Jaguars football team, this historic event celebrated the outstanding contributions to social justice by individuals who are leaders in education, business, criminal justice reform and re-entry services for returning citizens.

Mr. Osiris is an adviser and board member for the House of Mandela Family Foundation. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Athens Democracy Forum, an annual event convened by the Democracy & Culture Foundation in association with The New York Times.

Mr. Osiris conducts thought-provoking talks on a range of urgent social and criminal justice issues, including democracy and justice, hiring returning citizens and the psychology of incarceration.