Speaking
Invite JIL Founder Jared Fishman to speak at your upcoming event
What does it take to fix our communities?
Our communities are facing unprecedented challenges to our health, safety, economy, environment, and collective well-being. Sadly, our current systems and polarized politics are failing to generate effective solutions.
Do you wish there was something you could do to make a difference in your community or organization but don’t know where to start?
Throughout his career – from helping countries rebuild after war to tackling human trafficking and police corruption – Jared Fishman has battled some of the world’s most challenging problems. Through his riveting storytelling, humor, and infectious enthusiasm, Jared paints a captivating vision of what’s possible when we take a people-centered, data-informed approach to fostering change. As a keynote speaker, Jared helps audiences imagine a better world and empowers participants to take bold action to change the systems around them, making tangible differences in their communities and beyond.
Meet Jared
Jared Fishman is founder and executive director of Justice Innovation Lab. Prior to founding JIL, he served for 14 years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Jared led some of America’s most complex civil rights prosecutions, securing convictions in high-profile cases involving police misconduct, hate crimes, and human trafficking. He is the author of Fire on the Levee: the Murder of Henry Glover and the Search for Justice After Hurricane Katrina.
Jared is the co-director of JIL@GW and adjunct faculty at the George Washington University Law School. His work and analysis have been featured on CNN, CBS, CBC, and in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Jared earned his law degree from the George Washington University Law School, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Past events
What people are saying
“Jared is a rare blend of visionary and pragmatist. He leverages his deep expertise in an accessible way, not only inspiring audiences but empowering them to step into their power as advocates and allies in a shared quest for stronger communities.”
— MAUREEN McGOUGH, Executive Director, Excellence in Policing and Public Safety Program at University of South Carolina School of Law
“Systematic thinkers will deeply appreciate Jared’s approach to thinking about data in a different way. By asking audience members to first consider what values they hold, he leads them to a unique starting point to think about how to measure and evaluate those values.”
- ALISSA HEYDARI, Director, Vanderbilt University Project on Prosecution Policy
“Jared’s compelling storytelling, breadth of experience, and unique engagement with students compel audiences to action. With a refreshing blend of passion, wisdom, and unwavering optimism, he challenges listeners to deconstruct the problems around them and take concrete steps towards creating a brighter future.”
– CHESA BOUDIN, Executive Director, Criminal Law & Justice Center, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
“Jared is an excellent speaker, who enters a space ready to present but also to hear from those in attendance. His subject matter expertise is immense, and he holds the unique ability to tailor the level of his remarks to the understanding of the audience, ensuring he is engaging them rather than simply speaking at them. He strives to make his material approachable and practical.”
– JESSALYN BROGAN WALKER, Director, American Bar Association Legal Education Police Practices Consortium
“Both insightful and inspiring, Jared exemplifies how to turn frustration with the status quo into a catalyst for impactful change. Through data, enriched by compelling personal stories, Jared helps audiences grasp complex issues while leaving them with a sense of hope that change is possible.”
– KATIE BIBBS, Leadership Development Coordinator, Bishop’s University
“Jared’s speech gave me a completely new perspective on the world and showed me the difference between what the new generations think they should do to change the world versus what they actually need to do. I walked out of that theater a different person and found myself referring back to his speech in my daily life decisions.”
– SKY WILLER, Graduating 12th grader, Bishop’s College School