Meet the Social Justice League
OUR ORIGIN
The SJL began with an effort to combat racial injustice following the murder of George Floyd. From June - July 2020, the SJL raised a total of $818,000+ for the National Urban League & NAACP LDF.
Recognizing the SJL’s contribution, Marc shared his time, guidance, and inspiration with Co-Founders Max Taw & Alex Sands.
“…the SJL & their members are different than previous generations. Those of us who landed corporate jobs in the 80’s suppressed talk about race. There was an unwillingness to have candid conversations about race in the workplace. But now there is a renewed enthusiasm for leaning into the corporate space…
…It’s clear that you don’t have to be an executive to a leader.“
— Marc Morial, President & CEO of National Urban League
OUR MISSION
Social Justice League (SJL) is dedicated to building bridges between corporate, community, and non-profit, developing innovative shared platforms, and driving creative initiatives that highlight challenges, align resources, unlock potential, inspire investment, and maximize value delivered to those impacted and invested.
Our Principles
We are not the voice. We’re the microphone.
We are not the solution. We’re a connection.
We are not the spotlight. We’re the stage.
We are not executives. We’re leaders.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Max is from Pasadena, CA. Prior to founding the SJL, he spent 4+ years building a promising career in management consulting. His passion for social justice is inspired by his diverse family background, which includes activists such as his 'Uncle' Robert Fayne, ex-board member at the National Urban League.
In Nov ‘20, Max left his corporate role to follow his passion and fully dedicate himself to social impact. Applying his skills, values, and lessons learned from his family, Max aims to build bridges, create impact, and prove that everyone can win if we come together to invest in our communities.
Alex is a Howard University Graduate from Macon, Georgia. He feels that his passion for social justice is in his blood. His grandfather, Gordon Alexander Rodgers, was the first Black city councilman in the state of Alabama and a prominent community leader during the Civil Rights era. This legacy trickles down to Alex, who is compelled to continue this work.
Alex is committed to dedicating his time, talent, and treasure to the cause of racial justice and his work with the Social Justice League. Alex advocates for this issue in all of his spheres of influence, including in the workplace.
John A. Gibson, Esq is an Attorney, Business Advisor, and retired Division 1 Athlete that specializes in providing legal and business advisory services designed to help Athletes, Entertainers, Entrepreneurs, their families, and management teams protect and grow their wealth.
In addition to being a former Power 5 Conference Division 1 Athlete, John is qualified as an expert in Sports Law and negotiation as he holds a Sports Law Certificate from the National Sports Law Institute, an Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate, and is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association.
Our SJL Journey
The Social Justice League's origin story starts in June 2020 with a shared frustration toward the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. We created a fundraiser with a $1,000 goal for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the National Urban League. After investing significant time & energy over a span of 2 months, and with the help of over 2,700 donors, we raised a combined total of $818,538.
However, we always understood that the message is just as important as the money, so we invested time in drafting leadership communications and identifying low-effort, high-value calls to action that anyone could take to make an impact.
As a result, not only did we develop our own lifelong passion for social impact service, but we were also connected with hundreds of people with a wide range of backgrounds and interests, all looking to continue taking action for the movement. That's when we formed the SJL.
We never intended to create careers in doing good for others, and we realize that organic start has played a significant role in our success. We all trust ourselves and each other to remain committed to the guiding principles that have brought us this far: Listen with Empathy; Learn with Passion; Lead with Action; Live with Purpose.
At the end of the day, our success is driven by the decisions we make, the approach we take, and an all-around awareness that we cannot succeed in this selfless industry by operating on our own.
We are always stronger together, and we will always commit to objectives greater than ourselves.
"We knew the SJL was special from the moment we partnered together. Passionate about altruism, giving back, and community, the Social Justice League gets things done! ‘No’ isn’t in their vocabulary. They work tirelessly to provide assistance and deliver only the best to their clients and partners…
…Their method is simple---do good and do it well.”
— Merlin Clarke & Nola Hayes Do Good Bus, Director & Program Manager