JONATHAN PULPHUS
Jonathan Pulphus (he/him) is an equity advocate and organizer. Jonathan is from St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from Saint Louis University in 2017 with a BA in African American Studies and minor in Women & Gender Studies. While in attendance, he was awarded the James D. Collins award for academic excellence and Jamala Rogers Young Visionary Award for community service. Jonathan’s commitment to service and organizing helped lead to the signing of the Clock Tower Accords, an agreement from SLU toward access and equity. He served as the Saint Louis University’s President of Black Student Alliance, co-founder of Tribe X, a community organization and signer on the agreement.
Jonathan’s decade-long journey as a servant leader continued to blossom after SLU and benefit the broader St. Louis region. Previously, he led youth organizing efforts at American Friends Service Committee and coordinated violence prevention initiatives with both, Cure Violence and Freedom Community Center. He currently works for a local non-profit, where he manages several service providers, which offer direct service to St. Louisans. Maintaining his connection to his advocacy and youth organizing roots, Jonathan volunteers for Metro St. Louis Coalition for Inclusion and Equity and The Village.
Amongst many hats— organizer, activist, community servant, Jonathan recently ventured out as a thought leader and strategist. In 2024, Jonathan launched Justice Cultivator, a platform that provides customized solutions for social justice, violence prevention, anti-racism, and conflict resolution needs in government agencies and mid-sized organizations and businesses. His recent publication titled “Student Activism and Palestine: University Officials, Which Side Are You On?,” available at The Black Commentator, calls our attention to last Spring’s campus responses to student activists, fighting against injustice— an issue he knows all too well. Jonathan is currently writing his first book, With My People: Notes to Student Activists, which provides a forward and honest approach to social activism/community organizing, beginning with education.
Jonathan resides in St. Louis City with his family.
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson
Children's Defense Fund
President & CEO
"When I needed to finish my doctoral project about how we respond to racialized flashpoints in America, learning from the example of degradation and injustice in South Africa, it was Jonathan who would come to my aid and be the person that would transcribe my conversations with Desmond Tutu and South African scholars..."
Student
Washington University St. Louis
“A class speaker that I really appreciated the opportunity to hear from was Jonathan Pulphus.”
Dr. Dannielle Joy Davis
Saint Louis University
Professor
“KUDOS, to Mr. Jonathan Pulphus, who gave an outstanding presentation as our Guest Speaker for class.”
Charli Cooksey
We Power
Founder and CEO
"Jonathan took the stage and commanded everyone’s attention. He spoke his truth, and mine, and that of many black kids who attend some of the region’s most prestigious private high schools. He spoke forcefully of affluence and its often oppressive and racist nature."
Joshua Saleem
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Attorney
"His passion for history, his community, and anti-racist analysis, coupled with strong communication skills, made him an effective and persuasive communicator and facilitator."
Etefia Umana, Sr.
Umana Consulting
President and Principal Consultant
"I can honestly say that very few young people encapsulate the spirit of collectivism seen in Fred Hampton, the quiet and strong advocacy of Desmond Tutu, and the insights, intelligence, and comedic clarity of Dave Chappelle... He has a gentle spirit, sense of justice, keen perception, and community engagement/involvement that is second only to few."