Khalil Osiris

Khalil Osiris is an international speaker whose inspiring talks teach people to break free from their self-imposed limitations . He spent 20 years in prison and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boston University during his incarceration. Khalil transformed his life and emerged from prison with a deep understanding of how to use personal crisis and challenges as opportunities for self-improvement.

He is 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 opportunities. 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 Khalil’s 30 years of experience developing programs used in prisons and communities in America and South Africa. Khalil’s reentry program, Psychology of Incarceration, has been used in over 70 prisons across America. In 2011 he moved to South Africa, and for the next 7 years worked as a consultant in schools and prisons. Khalil hosted a popular TV show Each One, Teach One, which was winner of the 2016 South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Factual Educational Program.

On July 18th, Khalil organized the launch of RFN's groundbreaking restorative justice documentary, Truth & Reconciliation Conversations, in celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day 2020. People from 5 continents viewed the documentary and participated in a global conversation about facing racism and healing together. Khalil is Advisor and Board Member for the House of Mandela Family Foundation. He is also on the Advisory Board of Athens Democracy Forum, an annual event convened by the Democracy & Culture Foundation in association with The New York Times.

Khalil conducts thought-provoking talks on a range of urgent social and criminal justice issues, including Democracy and Justice, Hiring Returning Citizens and Psychology of Incarceration.