Men To Watch 2025 honoree Louis L. Reed

Louis L. Reed is a nationally recognized leader in social impact, blending lived experience with expertise in criminal justice reform, policy advocacy, and public health. After serving nearly 14 years in federal prison, he helped pass over 30 state and federal bills, including the First Step Act of 2018, creating pathways to freedom for more than 650,000 individuals. Reed is a criminal justice reform consultant. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President for the Douglass Project, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships for Jay-Z’s REFORM Alliance and Director of Membership and Organizing at Dream Corps Justice, co-founded by Van Jones and Jessica Jackson.

As the host of the Illmatic Podcast, Reed explores the intersection of hip-hop, resilience, and justice reform, amplifying stories of transformation. He is the founder of Decoded: Story Lab, a documentary film production company, and the author of Deuce’s First Step, a children’s book for families impacted by incarceration. Reed has also consulted for Hulu’s UnPrisoned and is featured in the documentaries First Step and When Does Freedom Begin.

A TEDx speaker and licensed addictions practitioner, Reed has earned recognition as one of LA Weekly’s “Top 5 People to Follow” in 2023 and was inducted into the 2024 Connecticut Hall of Change. Through his work, he continues to inspire change and advance equity at the intersection of justice, media, and culture.