Shayler R. Barnes Jr. is a culture strategist utilizing the transformative power of storytelling to drive social change. He founded The Rich Family, an intentional storytelling system that joins Rich Mag Digital, #RichTalk, and Rich Publishing Studio under Rich Reaches Out. RRO is a policy and narrative-building nonprofit organization balancing social justice and public health to advance equity. In addition, he is the founder of the Black Media Association, a nonprofit organization separate from The Rich Family system, advancing equity in media.
Through his writing and other work, Shayler explores the intersections of personal and collective identity, focusing on centering historically marginalized people and issues to move us toward sustainable solutions. His work builds people and community by advocating for systemic change, amplifying stories that have long been overlooked, and providing structural remedies to health inequities, creating equitable opportunities for every person to be well.
Shayler understands the only option to reach justice and healing is through creating space for wholeness. While continuing to champion his other work, he serves as Operations Director of RRO, investing in making Rich Reaches Out as impactful as possible. He always remains open to collaborating with everyone genuinely committed to holistic liberation.
