Allen Media Chooses Daryl V. Atkinson As Winner Of Inaugural ‘theGrio Heroes’ Award

Allen Media Group’s news, sports, and entertainment multi-media platform theGrio has chosen its first recipient of its TheGrio Heroes initiative: Daryl V. Atkinson. Atkinson is co-founder and co-director of Forward Justice, a Durham, N.C.-based nonpartisan law, policy, and strategy center dedicated to advancing racial, social, and economic justice in the U.S. AMG said TheGrio Heroes initiative “is about everyday people making a significant positive impact on the community and the culture, demonstrating outstanding goodwill and achievements and leading by example to find solutions with compassion, dedication, and determination.”
As the inaugural recipient of TheGrio Heroes initiative award, Daryl V. Atkinson personally embodies the importance of a second chance. In 1996, he pled guilty to a first-time, non-violent, drug crime and served 40 months in prison. Since his release, Daryl has become a zealous advocate for second chances for formerly incarcerated people. As co-founder and co-director of Forward Justice, Atkinson leads the advocacy-focused law, policy and strategy center to synergize community activism with the litigation, public policy, and scholarship necessary to secure rights for current and former incarcerated people.

Atkinson was the lead attorney in the seminal felony disenfranchisement case, Community Success Initiative v. Moore, that challenged North Carolina’s felony disenfranchisement policies. Atkinson and Forward Justice were the central advocates that ushered in the passage of the Second Chance Act, landmark legislation that makes the expungement process easier giving formerly incarcerated people equal access to opportunities for housing, education and employment.

Prior to founding Forward Justice, Atkinson was the first Second Chance Fellow for the U.S. Department of Justice. Most notably, in 2014, Atkinson was recognized by the White House as a “Reentry and Employment Champion of Change” for his extraordinary work to facilitate employment opportunities for people with criminal records.

Atkinson received a B.A. in political science from Benedict College in Columbia,   S.C., and a J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.

On July 10, Atkinson was featured prominently on theGrio.com, on theGrio Television Network with Eboni K. Williams at 6 p.m. and Marc Lamont Hill at 7 p.m., as well as on TheGrio Daily Podcast with Michael Harriot. These stories highlight different aspects of his remarkable journey and the ongoing accomplishments of his organization, Forward Justice, to create a more equitable society.

“TheGrio Hero award recognizes an individual who has made significant strides in making America stronger, more just and compassionate,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of theGrio parent company, Allen Media Group. “Daryl Atkinson exemplifies the values and spirit of this award, and we are honored to highlight his extraordinary contributions to the country and to humanity as a whole.”

“It is important we recognize Mr. Atkinson who has tirelessly worked for the betterment of our country,” said Geraldine Moriba, SVP, News, Entertainment and Empowerment, theGrio. “He transforms lives and inspires change.”