In 2013, while Burrell Ellis was serving his second term as the CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia, he was accused by the DeKalb County District Attorney of illegally soliciting campaign contributions from a county contractor.  Insisting that these charges were false and politically motivated, Burrell refused to resign as CEO and was suspended from his position.  After an initial mistrial, in 2015 Burrell was found guilty of perjury and attempted theft by extortion.  He was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, and was taken off to prison immediately after the sentencing. In late 2016, The Georgia Supreme Court reversed his conviction, ruling that he did not receive a fair trial. He was reinstated to his CEO position with back pay, and was reimbursed for his defense costs.   

Burrell and his wife Philippa join Carol to talk about how this crisis impacted their family and how they parented their two children through the storm.  They describe how they focused on maintaining their strong family unit, prioritizing honesty and openness with their children, relying on their faith and on therapy to help them make it through.  They used this family crisis to teach their kids integrity, resilience, and how to advocate for themselves. In this moving and poignant episode, Burrell and Philippa reflect on how their family banded together to fight injustice and stand on the truth. 



Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com 

In 2013, while Burrell Ellis was serving his second term as the CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia, he was accused by the DeKalb County District Attorney of illegally soliciting campaign contributions from a county contractor.  Insisting that these charges were false and politically motivated, Burrell refused to resign as CEO and was suspended from his position.  After an initial mistrial, in 2015 Burrell was found guilty of perjury and attempted theft by extortion.  He was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, and was taken off to prison immediately after the sentencing. In late 2016, The Georgia Supreme Court reversed his conviction, ruling that he did not receive a fair trial. He was reinstated to his CEO position with back pay, and was reimbursed for his defense costs.   
Burrell and his wife Philippa join Carol to talk about how this crisis impacted their family and how they parented their two children through the storm.  They describe how they focused on maintaining their strong family unit, prioritizing honesty and openness with their children, relying on their faith and on therapy to help them make it through.  They used this family crisis to teach their kids integrity, resilience, and how to advocate for themselves. In this moving and poignant episode, Burrell and Philippa reflect on how their family banded together to fight injustice and stand on the truth. 
 
Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com

Parenting advice and inspiration for raising smart, confident Black children. Join host and Ground Control Parenting founder Carol Sutton Lewis for weekly conversations with guests––familiar and new––about the joys and real work of parenting.

Ground Control Parenting with Carol Sutton Lewis

Standing On The Truth with Burrell and Philippa Ellis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9976cc23-39c5-42f4-ae6b-af5c0163dc8d/transcript