Let’s work together!

I work with communities, organizations, and institutions that are trying to do hard things well—often in moments of growth, transition, or pressure. My work sits at the intersection of community development, civic leadership, and project management, grounded in lived experience and focused on outcomes that last.

I bring a practitioner’s perspective shaped by more than a decade of work building a youth-led nonprofit from the ground up, serving as a city councilmember during crisis and recovery, and managing complex, multi-partner initiatives at the neighborhood, city, and statewide levels. Whether speaking, advising, or managing projects, my approach is practical, collaborative, and accountable to the people most impacted.

Speaking

I speak with audiences across the country about what it actually takes to build power, trust, and durable change—at the neighborhood level and inside institutions. My talks blend storytelling, systems thinking, and real-world examples from organizing, local government, public health response, and community development.

Common topics include:

  • Youth-led organizing and leadership development

  • Place-based community development and local ownership

  • Governing through crisis and rebuilding trust in institutions

  • Civic engagement, democracy, and systems change

  • Translating grassroots energy into durable public impact

I’m available for keynotes, panels, workshops, retreats, and facilitated conversations, and I tailor every engagement to the audience and goals of the event. Click here to submit a speaking request.

Consulting

I advise nonprofits, local governments, foundations, and community-rooted leaders who are navigating complexity and want grounded, actionable guidance—not generic strategy decks.

My consulting work often supports:

  • Organizational growth, transition, or restructuring

  • Governance and leadership development

  • Community-rooted program design and scaling

  • Place-based development and equitable planning

  • Aligning vision, policy, and implementation

I work alongside teams to clarify priorities, strengthen internal systems, and move ideas from concept to execution—always centering equity, feasibility, and long-term sustainability. My approach is informed by experience serving as an advisor or consultant to national brands and public institutions, including former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room, Facebook’s inspirED social and emotional learning initiative, Black Entertainment Television (BET), and the State of North Carolina—bringing together grassroots insight and institutional scale.

Project & Program Management

I have extensive experience leading high-stakes projects that require coordination across sectors, jurisdictions, and timelines—often under public scrutiny or during moments of crisis. This includes:

  • Statewide project management for DJs at the Polls in North Carolina, coordinating DJs, nonprofits, volunteers, and election officials across hundreds of polling locations

  • Regional leadership of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and health equity efforts across a 27-county area in Eastern North Carolina

  • Planning, development, and implementation of community-owned projects like the East Kinston Neighborhood Hub, including real estate acquisition, resident engagement, and cross-disciplinary coordination

I bring structure, calm, and clarity to complex work—helping partners manage logistics, relationships, and outcomes without losing sight of people.

Award-Winning Community Planning & Development

I am an experienced grassroots community planner and developer known for working alongside leading professionals to implement trauma-informed, resident-centered, and youth-led approaches to equitable development.

The East Kinston Neighborhood Hub and Equitable Development Plan—a central component of Kinston’s designation as a 2025 All-America City—has received statewide, national, and international recognition, including:

I also helped lead the Emma Webb Park Master Plan, which received a Merit Award in Planning & Analysis from the NC Chapter of ASLA.

My work and leadership have been featured by national and international media outlets, including:

Interested in working together? Shoot me an email at chris@chrisjsuggs.com today!