Town Hall Recap & Resources

Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter is the Scott Waugh Endowed Chair in the Division of the Social Sciences and a Professor of Sociology and African American Studies at UCLA. He is the coiner of #BlackLivesMatter and the author or editor of five books, including Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation (2024). A former Inaugural Chair of UCLA’s African American Studies Department and past President of the Association of Black Sociologists, he also drafted and advised federal legislation to establish the first U.S. Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Commission. His work has been featured across major media outlets, including C‑SPAN, MSNBC, BBC, NPR, and The New York Times.

Renée Hall is the President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and Executive Director of the Community Solidarity and Safety Coalition (CSSC). A former Dallas Chief of Police and longtime law‑enforcement leader, she is nationally recognized for advancing modern policing strategies, cross‑sector safety initiatives, and community‑centered reforms. A 2022 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow, she has led widely adopted programs focused on economic equity, public safety innovation, and police‑community trust.

Illinois State Representative Lilian Jiménez is an attorney and longtime advocate for workers, immigrants, and marginalized communities. Representing the 4th House District, she serves as Vice Chair of the Housing Committee and a leader in both the Progressive and Latinx Caucuses. Her work focuses on expanding worker protections, preventing displacement, and advancing community wealth‑building, informed by years of public service in labor rights, immigrant advocacy, and statewide equity initiatives.

Nadia Aziz is a civil rights attorney whose work has focused on centering those most directly impacted by hate crimes including ensuring survivor-informed best practices are implemented at state and local levels. She has served as Senior Director of the Fighting Hate and Bias Program at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Associate Director of the James Byrd, Jr. Center to Stop Hate at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Deputy Director of the Arab American Institute. Nadia is licensed to practice law in North Carolina.

Dawn Collins is the Co‑Founder of the Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III Foundation, created in honor of her son, who was killed in a hate‑crime attack. She and her husband lead statewide and national efforts to strengthen hate‑crime laws, support survivors, and promote racial equity. Their work advances education, community engagement, and scholarship programs for students at Maryland’s historically Black colleges and universities.

Rick Collins Jr. is the President and Co‑Founder of the 2nd Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III Foundation. A retired Navy veteran, he has become a leading advocate for stronger hate‑crime legislation and community safety following the murder of his son. Through partnerships with educational, nonprofit, and civil‑rights institutions, he advances programs focused on equity, awareness of hate‑group recruitment, and scholarship support for HBCU students.

Abdul‑Hai Thomas is the Director of Youth Participatory Action and Research at the Center for Children’s Rights, where he leads systems‑level change efforts that integrate youth voice, data‑driven decision‑making, and community collaboration. A Marine Corps veteran with advanced degrees in leadership and education, he designs frameworks that strengthen organizational culture and embed children’s rights and restorative practices across Jacksonville’s System of Care.

Ainka Jackson is the founding Executive Director of the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation, where she leads programs that reduce violence and build the Beloved Community. A nationally recognized advocate, she has presented at the United Nations and leads Selma’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation work. Jackson is also an Obama Foundation USA Leader, known for advancing racial equity, restorative practices, and community‑based safety strategies.

Adam Bush is the co‑founder and president of College Unbound, a degree‑completion institution supporting adult learners both inside and outside carceral settings. His work centers on democratic learning, collective action, and educational access. He has held national leadership roles in public scholarship networks, including Imagining America, and contributes to innovative models that expand higher‑education pathways for nontraditional students.

Leigh Foster is the Paramedic Manager for Denver’s Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) Program and a seasoned Denver Health paramedic with over 20 years of field experience. With a background in serving at‑risk youth, she helps shape alternative crisis‑response models that improve community safety and clinical outcomes. Her leadership supports innovation and best practices in non‑police emergency response.

Dirk Butler is the Chief Program Officer at NAF and a veteran social‑impact leader with more than 25 years of experience in youth development, racial equity, and community empowerment. He previously held senior leadership roles at the Center for Policing Equity, United Way of the National Capital Area, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. A dedicated advocate for under‑resourced communities, he guides national strategies that expand opportunity and build pathways to success for young people.

Maryland Delegate Melissa Wells represents the 40th District and serves as Chair of the Baltimore City Delegation, Chief Deputy Majority Whip, and First Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. She champions equity‑driven, data‑informed policies that strengthen economic stability and address root causes of public safety. Professionally, she advances national workforce strategies at NABTU, supporting pathways to opportunity and community resilience.

Dr. RaShall M. Brackney is a distinguished public safety executive with over 37 years of experience. She previously served as the Chief of Police for Charlottesville, VA, and George Washington University, following a 30-year career with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. While in Pittsburgh, she became the first African American woman to command the Special Operations Division, overseeing units such as SWAT and the bomb squad. A nationally recognized expert in harm reduction, procedural justice, and community-police relations, Dr. Brackney is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice at George Mason University and a 2024 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow.