Chris J. Suggs

Organizer, communicator, connector.

Chris Suggs is the Founder & CEO of Kinston Teens, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Kinston, North Carolina, dedicated to youth empowerment and community revitalization. Since launching the organization in 2014 as a high school student, Chris has led efforts to transform vacant lots, amplify youth voices in civic life, and build neighborhood-based infrastructure for leadership and care. Kinston Teens coordinates voter registration drives, leadership programs, community revitalization initiatives, and hosts events that center youth leadership and strengthen the social fabric of the community.

In 2020, Kinston Teens launched the East Kinston Neighborhood Hub, a first-of-its-kind facility designed in partnership with residents to serve as a space for youth programming, digital access, community healing, and collective action. The Hub has become a catalyst for further neighborhood transformation, including local beautification efforts, housing advocacy, and environmental stewardship.

Born and raised in East Kinston, Chris’s commitment to his hometown is personal. At 25 years old, he has spent more than a decade organizing for change—locally and nationally—through civic leadership, movement-building, and policy advocacy. He was previously appointed to the North Carolina Task Force for Safer Schools and the Governor’s Crime Commission, where he contributed to landmark juvenile justice reforms and the creation of anonymous safety reporting tools for public schools across his state.

Chris currently serves as a member of the Kinston City Council, where he has championed initiatives related to housing, food access, and economic development. He is a member of the National League of Cities’ Community & Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee and actively works to shape federal policy to support thriving local communities.

A proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chris earned degrees in Political Science and Religious Studies and served as President of the Black Student Movement and Senior Class President. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and has been recognized nationally for his leadership by platforms including Facebook, Nickelodeon, CNN and ABC 20/20.

Please direct all inquiries to chris@chrisjsuggs.com.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3355, Kinston, NC 28502

For inquiries related to Chris’s City Council role, contact the City of Kinston at (252) 939-3115 or at www.kinstonnc.gov.