User:Mikeidris/sandbox

Life and Career
Louis L. Reed is a multifaceted individual with experiences cutting across the industries of health and -wellness, grooming, and legislation. Louis is an American criminal justice reform activist , motivational speaker, and board-certified, licensed clinician with a specialty in substance abuse disorders.

Best known for Huffington Post contributions on "The New PTSD (Prison Traumatic Stress Disorder) and leading advocacy on the First Step Act, he is the recipient of numerous industry awards including the US Senate recognition for Professional of the Year; 2017 Best Innovative Practices by the US Conference of Mayors; and a 2018 citation from the Connecticut State General Assembly for his statewide contributions on best reentry practices and community service.

Louis holds degrees in criminal justice and psychology. After serving 14 years in federal prison, he came out intending to defend and give others a better understanding of the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system. Presently, he is the National Organizer for #cut50, a bipartisan criminal justice reform organization of the Dream Corps. His industry experience includes conceptualizing and serving as the inaugural director of the Mayor’s Office for Reentry Affairs in the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut.. Furthermore, he employs his vast experience and industry knowledge in criminal justice to keep individuals informed and stabilized. He is responsible for creating practices that provide employment, housing, access to addiction and mental health treatment, and other services for people impacted by the criminal justice system. As an advocate, he has maintained strategic relationships with The White House, USDOJ, US Senate, State Senate and House representatives, Governor’s Offices, and US Attorney General’s Office.

Reed led ''The National Day of Empathy” which is the largest day of criminal justice reform advocacy and action. This movement was centered on raising awareness and empathy on a massive scale for millions of Americans who are victims of the criminal justice system. Louis has been featured on prominent magazines such as n the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine Newsweek, The Washington Times , and other national publications.