Leonard Burton

Leonard Burton is the President of the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP). In this role, he brings more than three decades of leading anti-racist, intersectional social justice work including executive leadership in public social service systems, philanthropy, community change, faith-based programs, and youth development. Previously, Mr. Burton was a Senior Fellow at CSSP, working on the Systems Change and Public Policy teams and focusing on promoting healthy development and well-being for young people involved in intervening public systems. Mr. Burton is also a co-developer of the upEND Movement which focuses on abolishing family policing and reimagining and creating better means of care for children and families. 

Mr. Burton serves on the Boards of Building Bridges Initiative, as well as leading research organization WestED. He is also a national advisor and consultant to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network at Northwestern University supporting youth engagement and anti-racist practices in the context of child welfare and juvenile justice. Mr. Burton served as faculty coach on the Breakthrough Series Collaboratives for Transition Age Youth and Father’s and Paternal Relatives in Child Welfare.

Mr. Burton attended Langston University, holds a Bachelors’ degree in Public Administration from Austin Peay State University, and a Masters’ Degree in Education-Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University. He is a proud native of Detroit, Michigan, and currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama with his spouse Cheryl; they have two adult children and a teenage grandson. Mr. Burton is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and a combat veteran of the US Army.