Leading with Listening: Cliff Nellis
“I’ve had to really listen without judgment, really seek to understand.”
Episode Description
Cliff Nellis, co-founder and CEO of Lawndale Christian Legal Center, joins Kaylee Thomsen to discuss the call that led him from big law to community-based justice. He shares why leaders must listen without judgment, build trust across cultures, and replace punishment with healing. Cliff also reflects on scaling a mission while protecting local relationships—and how restorative justice can change the trajectory of young people’s lives.
Chapters
- 00:00 Welcome to Leadership Matters
- 00:45 The bicycle trip that changed Cliff’s calling
- 06:41 Learning to lead in North Lawndale
- 10:11 Unlearning, relearning, and suspending judgment
- 17:26 Discovering restorative justice
- 19:31 Justice as healing versus punishment
- 21:10 Turning accountability into repair
- 24:15 Scaling the mission while protecting local trust
- 29:54 The personal challenges of this work
- 34:46 Connect with Lawndale Christian Legal Center
More In The Series
See all on Youtube
