Richard Brookshire is a multi-hyphenate storyteller, nationally recognized narrative strategist and public speaker. The CEO and co-founder of the Black Veterans Project, his work is advancing reforms to address racial inequities in access to veterans benefits and the case for reparations.

Richard has been a contributor to TheGrio, The Root and AfroPunk and his efforts have been highlighted by The New York Times, The Washington Post, PBS Newshour, NBC News and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Recognized as ‘One to Watch’ by The Haitian Roundtable in 2017 and named one of Native Son’s 101 ‘Black Gay Men Who Make An Impact’ in 2020, he is the recipient of the 2022 Veterans Justice Award by Senator Richard Blumenthal and the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center.

A former infantry combat medic and U.S. Army veteran of the War in Afghanistan, he holds an MPA in Urban & Social Policy from Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs and a BA in Political Science (magna cum laude) from Fordham University.

A graduate of the New York Film Academy (NYFA) Documentary Conservatory — he is currently Creative Producer on ‘Just Call Me Lucki,’ a film about a woman’s attempt to stop one of the worst military intelligence failures in modern history, selected as a finalist for The Stay Indie Project.

He resides in Brooklyn.