# Harry Grammer

Harry Grammer (born 1975) is an American activist, educator, and poet. He is the founder of New Earth, a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship, arts programs, education, and vocational training for youth in the juvenile justice system. He was named a CNN Hero in 2017 and was among the first cohort of Obama Foundation Fellows in 2018.

## Early life and education

Grammer was born in Los Angeles, California. He had early encounters with the juvenile justice system, which led him to work on juvenile justice reform. He earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology, cum laude, from the University of Phoenix in 2011. He completed a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology with a specialization in Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies at Pacifica Graduate Institute (2019) in Santa Barbara.

## Career

In 2004, Grammer founded New Earth, which provides education, counseling, arts programs, job training, and a charter high school for youth in Los Angeles County juvenile detention centers and post-release support. The organization started as an open-mic program in a coffee shop and expanded to multiple reentry centers.
In 2015, New Earth opened the New Earth Arts and Leadership Center in Culver City, California, offering job training, education, and mentorship for system-impacted youth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grammer and New Earth provided connectivity and essential supplies to community members in need.
Grammer has collaborated with policymakers, including California Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan, on youth development initiatives. He has also worked with LA Waterkeeper on environmental projects. In 2019, he contributed to repurposing the former David Gonzales Probation Camp in Calabasas, California, into the Transformative Career Institute, a center for vocational training and mentorship. In 2024, Grammer participated in the Camp David Gonzales Residential Vocational Training Facility Pilot Project, which converted a former detention center into a career training center.
Grammer has spoken at TEDx events, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the California State Senate on juvenile justice reform, social entrepreneurship, and arts-based rehabilitation.

### Other work

Grammer served as board president of the Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association (PGIAA). He is a member of the advisory board for the Kuya Institute for Transformational Medicine in Austin.
Grammer developed New Earth's "FLOW" (Fluent Love of Words) program, which integrates hip-hop and music education to support academic development and employment opportunities in the music industry.
In 2016, he collaborated with guitarist Estas Tonne on a version of "Bohemian Skies," incorporating a poem written by Grammer. A live recording, "Bohemian Skies (For Harry Grammer)," was included in Tonne's album Strings and Stories of a Troubadour.
In 2022, Grammer and New Earth hosted the "Reign Supreme" fundraising gala, featuring hip-hop artist Doug E. Fresh and producer Medusa. The event raised funds for New Earth's youth programs.

## Public speaking and advocacy

Grammer has spoken at various events, including:
* The "Art for Advocacy" session at the 2018 Juvenile Defender Leadership Summit, discussing the role of art in juvenile justice advocacy.
* The "Celebrating MLK: The Beloved Community" panel in Santa Barbara, where he addressed justice and community empowerment.
* The "Amplifying Music’s Reach" discussion during GRAMMY Week 2020 at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles.
* TEDxSantaBarbara (2018), where he discussed social justice and the impact of COVID-19.
* The grand opening of the New Earth Arts and Leadership Campus in Gardena.
Grammer has also appeared on podcasts discussing racial injustice, juvenile justice reform, and systemic change in the United States.
Grammer was a featured speaker in Entheowheel's The Ceremony and Science of Psilocybin LiveStream Salon Series, where his prerecorded session was included in the event's bonus 10-hour video library. He also presented a webinar titled Breaking Down Privilege as part of his association with the Pacifica Graduate Institute Board.

## Recognition

Grammer has received several awards for his work in juvenile justice reform, including:
* Pride of Los Angeles Award (2023)
* Gold Award at the DoSomething Awards (2022)
* Community Impact Award at the LA Philanthropy Awards (2021)
* Los Angeles Sentinel's Top 50 Most Powerful African Americans in Los Angeles (2020)
* Global Citizen Award (2019) from the United Nations
* Obama Foundation Fellow (2018)
* Chancellor's Award for Excellence from Pacifica Graduate Institute (2017)
* Non-Profit of the Year recognition by California Senator Holly Mitchell (2017).
* CNN Hero (2017)
* Winner of Los Angeles Social Venture Partner's 2013 Fast Pitch Competition
* Josephine "Scout" Fuller Award from Psychologists for Social Responsibility (2012)

## Personal life

Grammer is married to Yana Simone Grammer and they live in Los Angeles, California.