ROBERT WILLIS
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
Teaneck,NJ
17
years of professional experience
Transformative leader with 15+ years driving criminal, racial, and economic justice through strategic partnerships and systems change. Expertise in building trust across sectors and translating grassroots priorities into institutional change. Skilled in collaborating with executive leadership, policymakers, and communities to develop strategies, enhance organizational capacity, and advance legislative goals. Committed to empowering communities and fostering lasting justice reform.
Work History
Justice Advocacy Coordinator, Northeast Region
4 Years 7 Months- Lead multi-state advocacy, organizational strategy, and coalition initiatives advancing criminal and racial justice reform throughout the Northeast.
- Develop and implement regional advocacy strategies supporting sentencing reform, reentry equity, decarceration, voting rights, and police accountability initiatives.
- Produced legislative analyses, policy briefs, educational materials, and advocacy resources that informed lobbying efforts and shaped public policy campaigns.
- Built and sustained strategic relationships with legislators, nonprofit organizations, legal advocates, community leaders, and coalition partners, enhancing alignment and effectiveness of statewide and regional campaigns.
- Facilitate meetings, trainings, public forums, and strategic planning sessions that elevate directly impacted leadership and community engagement.
- Coordinated multi-organizational coalitions, aligning messaging, legislative priorities, and collaborative actions to maximize impact across partner organizations.
- Partner with executive leadership to advance organizational priorities, campaign strategy, and long-term advocacy initiatives.
- Represent LatinoJustice before policymakers, community organizations, coalition partners, and public audiences through presentations, testimony, media engagement, and public education.
Discharge Planner & Program Facilitator
4 Years- Delivered reentry services and leadership programming within one of the nation's leading justice reform organizations, supporting successful community reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals.
- Facilitated evidence-based behavior change programs and reentry workshops, enhancing participant engagement and readiness for reintegration.
- Coordinated referrals to housing, employment, education, behavioral health, and supportive community services.
- Developed educational materials and curriculum, fostering participant engagement and supporting long-term success in community reintegration.
- Liaised between Department of Corrections, community providers, employers, and participants, ensuring seamless service delivery and comprehensive support.
- Collaborated across multidisciplinary teams to improve continuity of care and participant outcomes.
- Developed participant education materials, curriculum, and engagement strategies promoting long-term success.
Operations & Stakeholder Services Manager
5 Years- Directed operations and stakeholder engagement for a large residential cooperative, strengthening organizational effectiveness through strategic planning, relationship management, and operational leadership.
- Coordinated stakeholder communications as primary liaison among board leadership, residents, vendors, and service providers, enhancing collaboration and transparency.
- Implemented operational improvements that increased organizational efficiency and accountability.
- Oversaw staff scheduling and operational performance, streamlining internal communication systems to improve workflow.
- Managed complex issues requiring diplomacy, crisis management, conflict resolution, and executive-level communication.
- Negotiated and administered vendor contracts supporting security, telecommunications, maintenance, and facility operations.
- Facilitated board operations through effective planning and coordination, ensuring smooth organizational administration.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
4 Years- Founded and led a mission-driven stationery company built around storytelling, personal expression, and innovative product design.
- Developed organizational vision and long-term growth strategy while forging strategic partnerships and streamlining business operations.
- Created original products that blend artistic expression and personal identity, addressing the needs of specialized consumer markets.
- Directed marketing, branding, communications, customer engagement, and financial management.
- Secured startup funding through competitive executive business presentations.
- Oversaw all aspects of organizational leadership and operations, ensuring financial sustainability through effective management practices.
Education
Undergraduate Coursework - History & Business Administration
Skills
Policy Advocacy
Justice reform
Advocacy Strategy
Policy strategy
Strategic Partnerships
Coalition building
Program management
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Community Engagement
Strategic Planning
Organizational Leadership
Executive Communications
Thought leadership
Relationship Cultivation
SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Directed multi-state advocacy initiatives across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, aligning legal advocates, community organizations, policymakers, and directly impacted leaders around shared criminal and racial justice priorities.
- Developed legislative analyses, policy briefs, advocacy campaigns, and public education initiatives supporting sentencing reform, reentry equity, police accountability, voting rights, and Clean Slate implementation.
- Created Youth Advocacy Development Week and served as Curriculum Instructor for the Freedom In Practice Academy, preparing directly impacted individuals to become effective advocates and civic leaders.
- Authored community education materials, published opinion pieces, legislative support documents, and public-facing advocacy resources advancing justice reform.
- Represented organizations before policymakers, statewide coalitions, community forums, media, and advocacy partners while strengthening strategic relationships across the justice reform ecosystem.
BOARD LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT
- Creator, Youth Advocacy Development Week
- Curriculum Instructor, Freedom In Practice Academy
- Former Board Member, City Without Walls
- Mentor & Facilitator, Reentry and Youth Leadership Programs
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
- Published opinion writer and author of community education materials advancing criminal, racial, and economic justice.
- Frequent speaker and panelist at legislative briefings, policy forums, coalition convenings, and community events.
- Designed and facilitated advocacy trainings preparing directly impacted individuals to become civic leaders.
- Developed educational curricula supporting leadership development, public policy engagement, and systems-change advocacy.
Timeline
Justice Advocacy Coordinator, Northeast Region
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
01.2022 - CurrentRead More
Discharge Planner & Program Facilitator
The Fortune Society
01.2016 - 01.2020Read More
Operations & Stakeholder Services Manager
2077 Tenants Corporation
01.2011 - 01.2016Read More
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
MajesticEthos
01.2010 - 01.2014Read More
Kansas State University
Undergraduate Coursework from History & Business Administration
Read More