ABOUT BRITTANY

A best-selling author, attorney and entrepreneur who thrives at the intersection of hope, justice, and freedom. As a corporate attorney, Brittany was committed to pro bono representation of clients unjustly sentenced under federal drug laws. Her dedication to this life-changing work resulted in freedom for numerous people serving fundamental death sentences for federal drug offenses - including seven clients who received executive clemency from President Barack Obama. As the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother, Brittany knows firsthand the far-reaching impact of mass incarceration, devastating families and entire communities.

Dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system, Brittany founded two nonprofits: Girls Embracing Mothers, which empowers girls with mothers in prison, and the Buried Alive Project, tirelessly fighting to free people buried alive under outdated federal drug laws. Her work is multi-dimensional, seeking not only to free people from prison but also to cultivate their creative and entrepreneurial powers to better the world.

Brittany is the founder of Manifest Freedom. Manifest Freedom believes in the transformative power of the imagination and that everyone should flourish regardless of their past. Manifest Freedom has granted over half a million dollars in capital to individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. Her book, A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom, was released to critical acclaim and selected as an NAACP Image Award nominee and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist. Her book was also chosen by Amazon Editors as the #1 Best Book of 2020. Her recent TED Talk titled “The creativity, innovation and ingenuity languishing in US prisons” has garnered over 1.7 million views.

A graduate of SMU’s Dedman School of Law, Brittany served as the Associate General Counsel at ORIX USA Corporation focusing on mergers & acquisitions (private equity) and general corporate matters. Prior to her legal career, Brittany earned her license as a Certified Public Accountant and worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting.

This life has taken me on a remarkable journey – one that continues to transform my understanding of justice and the very definition of freedom itself. Every day I celebrate the lives of the many people who have given me the privilege to represent them. In many ways, they have freed me too.

May we always evolve in perfect alignment with the most authentic, purest versions of ourselves.

BRITTANY K. BARNETT