Background
I am Chuck Grigsby, husband, father, neighbor, and advocate for East Lansing. My family chose this city because of its people, its schools, and its strong neighborhoods. Today I serve as an at-large City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem, and I approach the work the same way I ran my campaign: listen first, build trust, and do the work with residents, not for them.
Rooted in Service
Service to the community is not new to me. It is who I am.
Before I ever held public office, I spent more than eight years as an Investigator II in the Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. In that role, I worked directly with victims of violent crime and their families, carefully reviewing law enforcement reports and documentation from courts, medical providers, and employers. The work demanded meticulous fact-finding, clear and compassionate communication, and close collaboration with prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and victim advocates. That experience shaped my belief that public safety must always keep victims, families, and communities at the center of our decisions.
When my family settled in East Lansing, I stepped up to help build fair, community-centered policy. As Chairperson of the East Lansing Human Rights Commission, I worked with neighbors, law enforcement, city staff, and policy experts to help develop the City’s Independent Police Oversight framework. The goal was simple: strengthen trust and accountability while supporting the people who serve and protect.
I also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for East Lansing Info (ELi), our local nonprofit news organization, helping guide organizational strategy, support editorial independence, and strengthen public transparency and accountability.
Practical Skills in Mediation and Restorative Justice
My work is centered on helping people collaboratively solve problems.
I founded Prime Time Mentoring and Tutoring Educational Services, Inc. to support youth and families through mentoring, tutoring, and restorative practices. In that role I supervised staff, volunteers, and interns; built partnerships with schools and community organizations; and designed programs that helped young people stay connected to school, improve academically, and make better long-term decisions.
To support this work, I completed a Certification in Mediation and Restorative Justice through Central Michigan University / Mediators Without Borders. I believe effective conflict resolution requires training, patience, and follow-through — not just good intentions. Those are the same skills I use at City Hall: listen carefully, identify the real issues, bring people to the table, and follow through on what we say we are going to do.
Education and Professional Background
I hold a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Grand View University. I am currently pursuing Doctoral studies in Criminal Justice Leadership through the Helms School of Government at Liberty University, a nationally recognized program in government, public policy, and criminal justice. My doctoral work focuses on multi-level justice systems and public safety policy, and it allows me to bring current research into conversations about policing, youth justice, and municipal leadership here in East Lansing.
Professionally, I serve as an Engagement Director for a statewide online public school in Michigan, where I lead student and family engagement strategies. In that work, I analyze data, coordinate cross-functional teams, and design systems that make it easier for families to succeed in a virtual learning environment. My earlier roles included directing community-based youth programs and leading school and community engagement initiatives that strengthened connections between educators, families, and neighborhoods.
These experiences, state-level victim services, youth mentoring, education leadership, and municipal governance, all shape how I read a budget, evaluate a policy, and ask questions at the council table.