Hakim Hilliard is an attorney and principal with Hilliard Starkey Law, an Atlanta-based law firm where his practice focuses on matters of public policy and regulatory affairs. With a mix of public and private experiences as a lawyer, beginning with his first position as an attorney with the City of Atlanta Law Department, the keen understanding Hakim has developed of how government works and, in particular, how government processes intersect with private interests, have allowed him to provide a specialized brand of the strategic guidance and counsel for his clients for the last twenty-five years.  In 2017, Hakim joined his friend and former colleague, Rory Starkey to create Hilliard Starkey Law, a boutique law firm that has grown exponentially since it was started. Hakim especially enjoys his role as a counselor and strategic advisor to his clients, relying upon his knowledge of the law and the public policy that drives it to assist them in achieving their objectives. While Hakim takes great pride in the work he does as a lawyer and counselor to his clients, his greatest passion can be found in the opportunities he has to serve the community. Away from his law practice, Hakim approaches life with the same passion.  A part of a family with several generations of educators, Hakim has made it to point to always be involved with community services organizations that serve children.  In addition to serving on various boards and parent teachers associations, in 2009, Hakim became one of the founders of the C.T. Vivian Male Scholars Program, an organization of men who get together weekly with African American boys, ages 6-16 years old, to support their growth and development. Hakim is a graduate of both The Lovett School and Morehouse College in Atlanta.  After receiving his law degree from The Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, Hakim returned to Atlanta in 1993 to begin his career.  He has served as a law clerk to a trial judge in Fulton County Superior Court, Atlanta, Georgia, an assistant city attorney with the City of Atlanta, an associate at various private law firms, including McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP (now “Denton’s”), where he was a partner for several years.  After returning to government service for a short time, as the Chief of Staff to the CEO Of DeKalb County, Hakim joined his current colleague to form Hilliard Starkey Law in Atlanta. All things considered, Hakim’s best work has been his time with his nine-year old daughter, Asa Pearl Hilliard, his greatest love and most faithful inspiration.

Rich Thompson is Vice President of Business Development for YouScience – a revolutionary career guidance and workforce development platform that objectively measures aptitudes most important to career choice to help align students’ talent to their best-fit career opportunities. In his role, Thompson is responsible for establishing local, regional, and national strategic partnerships with educational and youth support organizations from coast to coast. A longtime champion for expanded educational opportunity, Thompson has earned national recognition for his dedication to promote responsible fatherhood through civic engagement in education reform policy. As founder and chairman of 100Dads, a grassroots advocacy organization of civic-minded Dads, he’s been highly instrumental in spearheading multiple landmark legislative victories. Prior to joining YouScience, Thompson was the founding executive director of the Georgia Parent Teacher Organization, a statewide membership organization working to promote parental engagement and support effective educational options for every child in Georgia. He’s also served as chief engagement officer of Ameripublic Partners, LLC – a strategic public affairs firm specializing in government relations, grassroots advocacy and business development solutions for non-profits, political campaigns and corporate clients. Thompson currently serves as governing board chair of Georgia Connections Academy, a statewide virtual public charter school, board trustee of the Georgia 4-H Foundation and immediate past chair of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Advisory Council. Thompson is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. He resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife and two daughters. Better Outcomes for OUR Kids‘ (BOOK) mission is to raise awareness around the need for high-performing schools in African-American communities, and the need to expand and increase the awareness of educational options and school choice. We believe when leaders are equipped with and prepared to share objective information about high-quality schools through BOOK’s programming, they will be effective at communicating the educational crisis effecting African-American youth. With support from parents, local constituents, policymakers, the media, and key influencers, we can change the course of our failing schools.

Community Builder & Advocate Mr. Rush is both a native and transplant of Atlanta and has a background in marketing and community engagement. His community experience includes over a decade of involvement with the Atlanta BeltLine as a consultant, tour guide and volunteer. An advocate for civic enrichment and youth empowerment, Sundiata is an alumnus of United Way’s VIP (Volunteer Involvement Program) and is also on the Board of East Atlanta Kids Club, an afterschool and mentoring program. He likes to step on stage from time to time and has local theater credits with Actor’s Express, Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theatre, Essential Theatre and Theater Emory among others. Sundiata enjoys fitness activities, art, hiking and exploring new places. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.