Bio
Bruce serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, where he is a member of the executive leadership team helping to drive one of the state’s most impactful civil rights organizations. A seasoned attorney, strategist, and public leader, Bruce brings a proven record of building power, winning campaigns, and advancing civil liberties through coordinated legal, policy, and civic engagement strategies.
In his current role, Bruce leads the execution of organizational strategy across policy, advocacy, communications, and voter access, aligning the full capacity of the ACLU of Georgia into an integrated advocacy model. He has been instrumental in operationalizing cross-functional campaigns that connect litigation, legislative advocacy, communications, and grassroots mobilization into unified efforts designed to deliver measurable outcomes and long-term impact.
Bruce’s leadership has driven major advancements in voter access and First Amendment protections across Georgia. He has helped lead statewide voter access initiatives that placed legal support and trained advocates across jurisdictions, contributing to dramatically reduced wait times at polling locations, from hours to minutes in key areas. He has also led and supported large-scale First Amendment and protest-related efforts, ensuring that individuals and communities are equipped to exercise their rights safely and effectively, while strengthening the organization’s capacity to respond in high-stakes moments.
He has been a driving force behind large-scale mobilization efforts that have brought tens of thousands of people into the civil rights movement. Bruce has helped lead and execute mass advocacy events, including rallies and civic actions with more than 10000 and more than 30000 attendees, positioning the ACLU of Georgia as a visible and trusted leader in moments of public engagement and crisis response. These efforts have strengthened the organization’s ability to mobilize quickly, influence public discourse, and build durable coalitions across the state.
Bruce has also played a central role in electoral and civic engagement efforts that helped influence key outcomes across Georgia, including successful sheriff and district attorney races. His work was particularly impactful in the Cobb County sheriff's race, where advocacy efforts, fueled by widespread concerns about jail conditions, contributed to a shift in leadership. Through this work, Bruce has demonstrated an ability to connect policy advocacy with electoral outcomes that drive systemic change.
Prior to his current role, Bruce served as Policy and Advocacy Director at the ACLU of Georgia, where he led legislative strategy, coalition partnerships, and policy campaigns across multiple issue areas, including voting rights, First Amendment protections, and criminal legal reform. His work has consistently focused on turning strategy into execution and ensuring that advocacy translates into tangible outcomes for communities, particularly those most directly impacted by systemic inequities.
Bruce also serves as the Senior Advisor to the ACLU's Southern Collective where he has started the Southern Legal Internship Program which offers paid internships to law students interested in social justice work. He's also accomplished several major partnerships, collaborating in the pursuit of expanding and defending civil rights and liberties.
Bruce’s leadership and impact have been recognized at the highest levels. He currently serves as President of the Gate City Bar Association and is a recipient of numerous honors, including the National Bar Association’s 40 Under 40 Award, Georgia State University’s 40 Under 40, and the University of Georgia’s 40 Under 40. He has also received multiple Advocacy Partner of the Year Awards from the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. His work and commentary have been featured in major national and international outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, BBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
In addition to his professional leadership, Bruce remains deeply engaged in civic and community institutions, including the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Lead Atlanta, Hands on Atlanta, and several others. He serves on multiple boards and has created and supported initiatives designed to develop the next generation of leaders, expand access to the legal profession, and strengthen civic participation.
Bruce brings to executive leadership a combination of strategic vision, demonstrated results, and the ability to build and sustain power at scale. His leadership is grounded in clarity, accountability, and execution, ensuring that organizations are not only positioned to respond to the challenges of the moment but to shape the future of civil rights and civil liberties in Georgia and beyond.