Blake Strode

Blake Strode (born July 9, 1987 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American civil rights lawyer serving as the executive director of ArchCity Defenders (ACD), and is a former professional tennis player.

Early life and education Strode grew up in Charlack, Berkeley, and Bridgeton, in North St. Louis County, Missouri,

He earned degrees in Spanish and economics at the University of Arkansas, where he was an All American tennis player for the Razorbacks.

Sports career Strode was a Missouri high school state champion in tennis. He won the Missouri Class 2 singles tournament in 2005 and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA singles championship in 2009, earning NCAA All-American status. He was awarded the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Arthur Ashe award for leadership and sportsmanship.

Advocacy career Strode joined the nonprofit law firm ArchCity Defenders in 2015 as a Skadden Fellow leading a two-year housing project at the firm. He was eventually elevated to lead the firm's litigation department.

In January 2018. Strode was named the new executive director of the firm at age 30.