Jonathan Daniel Stier

Background

About Jonathan Daniel Stier

From the jailhouse to the White House; from prisoner #284635 to Obama White House official, I am fully human, serving humanity as an impact entrepreneur, organizer & filmmaker, neurodivergent thinking differently. After years behind bars for a Cannabis arrest at age 19, earned a Bachelor of Science in philosophy, held full time positions as a youth counselor and community organizer, then held leadership positions with social & electoral campaigns, including Obama for America, leading to a White House appointment through which I worked to address U.S. mass incarceration serving as President Obama’s White House Drug Policy Office National Outreach Coordinator. I am the first American to serve inside the White House after serving a prison sentence, and have since received an executive pardon from Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. Thank you. After the White House, from ‘11-‘14, led transparency campaigns pressuring tech industry leaders to address conflict minerals, was cited as the difference-maker in creating the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy to Africa's Great Lakes, and produced the documentary series I Am Congo @CAP In 2014 founded Stier Forward, a Production House Think Tank innovating in organizing, transparency, and representation in leadership/ownership/narrative. Stier Forward is advancing thought leadership, producing film, while incubating and launching next generation social impact initiatives and campaigns. In 2015 & 2016 produced two feature-length documentaries, When Elephants Fight (Netflix, Amazon, Apple) and Merci Congo (VICE). Stier Forward then launched Stand With Congo with Special Envoy Tom Perriello, Actor Robin Wright, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege, organizing 150+ policy events in 17 countries, as part of the pro democracy movement pressuring Kabila from power by 2019. In 2018 founded Mighty Peace Coffee, held final decision as Board Chair and President. With my partners, we created thousands of jobs in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kivus. In 2021 joined the production team of Trace The Line. Served as Campaign Manager for the Steven Olikara Wisconsin U.S. Senate Campaign. By 2023, together grinding with partners in peace, Mighty Peace Coffee grew to supply Congo’s best coffees to over 400 U.S. coffee companies in 26 States contracting with Congolese farmers. Twas our fifth year of operation. 2025 Nomad, Writing. Contributed to front pages of Politico, Huffington Post, hosted The Mighty Pod, and am a recurring guest on MSNBC and The Areva Martin Show. All clips below in Projects, Publications.