Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Ellison.
Hi Crystal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas, where I attended M.E. Pearson Elementary, Banneker Elementary, Central Middle School, and ultimately graduated Cum Laude from Wyandotte High School. Growing up with seven siblings close in age, and later meeting my two half-siblings, I experienced a childhood full of love, adventure, and strong family values. Some of my fondest memories include my father creating a makeshift swimming pool in his truck bed, our unique go-carts, and my mother’s unwavering love and faith-filled guidance. This foundation shaped who I am today.
After high school, I knew I wanted to become a lawyer, but I had little guidance on the path forward. I started my higher education at a community college, Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, where I earned a two-year full scholarship and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. My academic journey included time at several institutions, KCKCC, UMKC, and Clark Atlanta University, before ultimately earning my Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies with a minor in Political Science from Park University, graduating Cum Laude.
During my final year at Park University, I gave birth to my daughter, Bri’Yah. Despite challenges, including severe morning sickness, I pressed forward in pursuit of my dream. When my mother encouraged me to take a break, understanding that taking care of a new child could be challenging, I told her that giving up wasn’t an option for me and that I knew I could succeed. Soon after I graduated from college, I was accepted into law school. I attended the University of Kansas School of Law, where long nights of studying were balanced by raising a remarkably understanding child. In 2015, I proudly graduated, becoming the first in my family’s generation to earn both a college and a law degree.
I am now licensed to practice law in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, and I am proud to say I passed the bar on my first attempt. My career began prosecuting child-in-need-of-care cases in Jackson County, Missouri, and Wyandotte County, Kansas. I then served as an Assistant Public Defender in Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri, before transitioning to civil litigation. Today, I am a Senior Litigation Attorney with Allstate Insurance, handling personal injury, subrogation, and insurance fraud cases.
In 2020, I was honored to be selected for a rare appointment as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Reservist, serving as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate with the United States Air Force. I currently hold the rank of Captain, one of my proudest accomplishments. I must give credit to my best friend, Margery, who is a Sergeant in the Army. She persistently pushed me to consider military service, seeing the potential in me even when I hesitated. Looking back, I am so grateful I listened to her and took that leap of faith.
Beyond my legal career, I am the founder of Serenity Infinity Books, LLC. In 2020, during the pandemic, I began writing my first children’s book, “Aubri’s Story: Rising Above Bullying”, inspired by my daughter. The book promotes courage, kindness, and positive affirmations as tools to overcome bullying. Publishing this book has been one of my most fulfilling endeavors, and my daughter has been an integral part of the process, encouraging me when I worked tirelessly, reminding me to take breaks.
Family remains at the center of my life. Bri’Yah, now 14, is beginning her first year of high school, and my son, Bryant, age seven, is in second grade. They are both such amazing children. Bryant often brings joy and laughter to our family with his bright smile and kind heart while Bri’Yah is multi-talented and wise beyond her years.
My faith is the most important part of my life, grounding everything I do. I am a long-standing member of Friendship Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, under Pastor Terrance, where my relationship with God continues to strengthen and guide my path. During my childhood years, I consistently attended New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor Perry’s leadership. Alongside faith, service is also a deeply meaningful part of my journey. I currently serve as Vice President of the Jackson County Bar Association, am on the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation, and am a proud volunteer with Lead to Read KC. I also volunteer with PREP-KC, where I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Volunteer Engagement Committee for several years. Over time, I’ve learned to focus my efforts on causes that truly align with my passions, rather than simply filling a résumé.
In my spare time, I love helping people, giving back, and spending quality moments with my children. Whether it’s cooking, shopping, or enjoying family movie nights, I cherish the time we share together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My life has not always been a smooth road. While many may see my journey as a story of success, it has been filled with challenges and obstacles that required persistence, resilience, and faith to overcome.
One of the hardest struggles has been watching loved ones battle serious health conditions. A close friend of mine, who is like a sister to me, Taela, “Tae-Tae” as myself and my sister Asia would call her, has spent years in a nursing home before even reaching 40, fighting lupus. Watching her nearly lose her life several times has been devastating and has reminded me how fragile life can be. At the same time, my father has endured years of chronic seizures, leading to frequent hospitalizations. More recently, doctors have raised concerns that he may be experiencing early onset dementia. Watching both my friend and my father fight such difficult battles has been heartbreaking, but it has also given me perspective, empathy, and a deeper appreciation for the time I have with those I love.
Another defining challenge has been navigating life as a single mother while pursuing a demanding legal career. I cared for my daughter throughout law school, balancing the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, bath time, and quality time with her, while studying hundreds of pages of case law each night. I knew being unprepared in class was never an option. Oftentimes times professors would randomly call on students to answer questions; not having the answer was not an option for me. I remember professors being very understanding, allowing me to bring Bri’Yah to class when her school was closed, and even asking my permission to introduce her to my classmates as “our newest student.” There were nights when she watched cartoons quietly so I could study, and times I juggled her bedtime routine with preparing for exams in subjects such as Evidence, Property Law, Contract Law, or final bar review sessions. Those years were exhausting, very exhausting, but leaning heavily on my faith and prayer carried me through. Passing the bar and becoming the first lawyer in my family made every sacrifice worthwhile.
Life’s challenges continued even in moments of triumph. The same year I was set to graduate from law school in 2015, my children’s paternal grandfather, Mr. Curtis Burton, passed away. His death was devastating for me and my daughter. I had known him since I was a child, and he treated me like his own. He absolutely adored Bri’Yah, calling her “Ya Ya.” Anytime I needed help with Bri’Yah so that I could continue my undergraduate degree he was “always” there. He gave me unwavering support and encouragement, and his passing left a void that is still deeply felt. Consoling my daughter as she remembers her fondest moments with him never gets easier.
Even with these struggles, my children have been my driving force. Being a single mother has presented challenges, but it has also given me motivation and strength that I may not have found otherwise. I will never forget the moment my teenage daughter recently told me how proud she was of all I’ve accomplished. Coming from a teenager, at an age when they often act as if you’re bothering them, those words meant everything to me. It reminded me that every late night, every prayer, every obstacle was worth it.
Through it all, I’ve learned that life is not about smooth roads, it’s about resilience, persistence, and faith. Each challenge has molded me into the woman, mother, attorney, officer, and author I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The United States Air Force/Serenity Infinity Books, LLC/Allstate Insurance?
From a young age, I aspired to be a prosecutor. Growing up in a community impacted by crime, I had friends and family members who were both perpetrators and victims. That perspective fueled my passion for justice. Early in my career, I prosecuted cases involving abused and neglected children. While I valued the work, many cases were deeply disturbing. I will never forget one particular case where the state sought to remove children simply because their home had roaches. While the family lacked resources, the children were loved. That experience revealed to me that many child welfare cases are rooted not in neglect, but in poverty, and that the law doesn’t always align perfectly with the best interests of the child.
Although I never imagined myself as a criminal defense attorney, I later served as an Assistant Public Defender in Jackson County, Missouri, under the leadership of Ruth Petsch, in one of the nation’s highest-crime jurisdictions. At first, I thought I would be fearful of clients charged with double murder, rape, or other serious crimes. Instead, I found deep respect for them as people, and I was never afraid. I came to see that without strong advocacy, the justice system could, and often did, fail individuals. This work humbled me and reinforced my commitment to fairness and equity. To this day, I consider public defense a role I would gladly return to after retirement.
Eventually, I transitioned to civil litigation and now serve as a Senior Litigation Attorney with Allstate Insurance, where I handle personal injury, subrogation, and insurance fraud matters. While I sometimes miss the intensity of criminal law, I truly enjoy the challenges and rewards of civil practice.
In addition to my civilian career, I proudly serve as a Captain in the United States Air Force Reserves as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate. My best friend, Margery, now a Sergeant in the Army, pushed me relentlessly to pursue the military, recognizing potential in me I hadn’t yet seen in myself. Her persistence changed my life. I was honored to be selected for a position granted to only about one percent of applicants during my acceptance period. Since joining, I have served as a recorder on a discharge board involving drug abuse, assisted the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base with hundreds of estate planning documents for deploying airmen, and mentored more than 50 students preparing to begin basic training. Each of these moments has been humbling and a reminder that my service is guided by God’s purpose.
As the founder and CEO of Serenity Infinity Books, LLC, I am also a self-published children’s author and speaker. My debut book, “Aubri’s Story: Rising Above Bullying”, released on September 9, 2025, was inspired by my daughter. “Aubri’s Story” teaches children how to rise above bullying with courage, kindness, and positive affirmations. Entrepreneurship has not been easy, but it has been one of my most rewarding ventures. Prior to creating my business I’ve done school visits, workshops, and speaking engagements, reaching thousands of students across countless classrooms, sharing messages on leadership, time management, overcoming obstacles, and resilience. I’ll never forget a student who bravely shared her own bullying story after hearing about “Aubri’s Story”. Moments like these affirm my mission and remind me why I do this work.
Looking ahead, I plan to expand Serenity Infinity Books with more titles that tackle important topics such as pursuing a legal career, integrity, navigating high school, friendship, and courage. I also intend to translate my books into other languages to reach and uplift children worldwide.
My children’s book, Aubri’s Story: Rising Above Bullying, is now available for purchase! You can order your copy online through my website, Serenity Infinity Books, LLC, IngramSpark and Amazon.
In addition to the book, I also offer read-aloud sessions, speaking engagements at schools and graduations, and interactive workshops for all grade levels to promote literacy, leadership, and anti-bullying awareness.
At Serenity Infinity Books, we believe in building a culture of kindness and positivity all year long. Each month, we create an activity that encourages the community to practice intentional acts of kindness. For example:
• Last month’s activity: A coloring page paired with writing positive affirmations. Completed entries were entered into a drawing for a gift card from a variety of companies.
• This month’s activity: A Kindness Scavenger Hunt, where participants complete tasks that spread joy and compassion.
Activities always begin on the 1st of the month and end on the last day of the month, with a winner announced on the 1st of the following month. These challenges are a fun, engaging way to encourage positive habits and meaningful connections within our community.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t necessarily believe in luck, whether good or bad. Ironically, I sometimes say “good luck” to others, but when I do, I really mean “I wish you many blessings” or “I hope for the best outcome for you.” To me, life is about sowing seeds. I believe wholeheartedly that you reap what you sow. When you sow good seeds, through hard work, integrity, and kindness, you will reap positive outcomes. On the other hand, when you make poor choices or sow negativity, those consequences eventually come back as well. Some people might call that luck; I see it as a reflection of the seeds we plant.
Looking at my own life, I can clearly see the results of the seeds I have sown, and more importantly, I see the hand of God. I am confident that He is watching over me and my children. Even the smallest things feel like blessings, my children’s health, their ability to walk, talk, and thrive. If someone wanted to call that “good luck,” I would say I have an endless list of reasons to be “lucky.” But to me, it is not luck, it is God’s grace and favor.
If I had to align my perspective with the idea of “luck,” I would say that blessings are what others might call good luck, while trials and challenges could be seen as bad luck. But I view both as necessary parts of life. The blessings keep me grateful and grounded, and the obstacles strengthen my faith, resilience, and determination. Ultimately, my journey is proof to me that when you serve God, sow good seeds, and stay faithful, anything is possible.
Purchase Links: Please feel free to scan the QR codes provided.
Website: http://www.serenityinfinitybooks.com
Hardcover (IngramSpark): https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=YqAKSYSMbf5wStv5TSi5xnATSNWTuLGngCqOoXig1UH
Paperback (Amazon): https://a.co/d/hMgaAZH
Paperback (IngramSpark): https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=EcjaZyV1ivmUJdDRGmyzWwBsS4HJvWl6OUlhRctqEJu
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook/LinkedIn: Serenity Infinity Books, LLC
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