Anthony Grimes

Anthony has leadership experience executing brand creation and development, company marketing, corporate strategy, and film production across a wide array of industries. 

He founded the Denver Freedom Riders to provide infrastructure and organizing support during the Ferguson uprisings. This grassroots network soon became the epicenter for the movement for black lives in Denver, Colorado. The organization trained thousands of organizers and became the central movement arm in holding Denver’s political leadership accountable for community safety, youth education, and harm reduction in black and Latinx communities, resulting in policy formation and cultural change in Colorado and abroad.

He was invited to create his own position as Director of Campaigns and Strategy for the Fellowship of Reconciliation — the largest, oldest interfaith peace organization in the United States. During his tenure, Anthony designed national responses to some of the country’s most challenging human rights issues, including the refugee crisis of 2016.

Anthony was invited by the Netherlands to give the keynote speech for the inauguration of the United Nation’s Decade for People of African Descent. He was also the inaugural touring speaker for the International Fellowship of Reconciliation’s Beloved Community tour in Europe. As part of the tour, he supported African descendants in the diaspora to form strategic responses oppression.

Before founding his own company, 99thstate, Anthony worked as Director of Marketing at the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. 

As Director of Brand at Fairwinds Ops, Anthony led the company’s rebrand after a multi-million dollar acquisition to shift to a product-based business model.

As a filmmaker, Anthony has had lead roles in several award-winning films, including Mr. Somebody (Producer) — a biopic about a gang member in Watts, LA; To the Muse (Producer) — a fictional story about an aspiring artist in Cuba.

Anthony received his Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and Ethnic Studies from Colorado State University and was recognized as a Distinguished First Generation Scholar. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Denver Seminary, receiving the Raymond McGlaughlin Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Preaching and the Carey S. Thomas Award for Excellence in Leadership.
with his wife and kids

When he's not working, he loves reading, traveling, being active, and spending time with his wife and kids.