Our FOUNDER

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​Kayla A. Hicks

​President & CEO

Kayla A. Hicks is an influential leader, advocate, and change-maker dedicated to fostering professional equity for Black women in various fields. As the founder, President, and CEO of Sustain Equity Group (SEG), a nonprofit organization, Kayla's vision is to empower Black women in violence prevention, justice, education, economics, the sciences, and beyond.
Kayla's remarkable journey and unrelenting motivation are rooted in her profound upbringing and personal story. Having experienced the foster care system as a state ward child, she overcame childhood violence, neglect, and abandonment. Tragically, the loss of her identical twin sister due to malnutrition and dehydration became a turning point, propelling her to dedicate her life to serving others and honoring her sister's memory. Despite enduring unimaginable adversity, Kayla embarked on a mission to transform her own life and improve the lives of countless others from the age of 15 when she ran away.
A trailblazer and innovative change-maker, Kayla made significant contributions to the Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) movement as a former leader in the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, now the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Gun Violence Solutions. In 2013, she became the first person in the Gun Violence Prevention movement (GVP) to shed light on the daily gun violence experienced by Black and brown communities, leading to a profound impact on policy and programs in Virginia that are now saving lives.
Kayla's expertise and passion have earned her recognition and opportunities to collaborate with renowned figures and platforms. She had the privilege of appearing on the Freeze frame stage with the iconic Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Dr. Michael Dyson, and Lee Daniels, where their powerful message resonated with audiences worldwide. Kayla was personally invited by Stevie Wonder to his home, where they collaborated on a campaign against gun violence, harnessing the collective power of their voices in love to effect change.
In addition to these incredible experiences, Kayla has been a featured guest on influential platforms such as Roland Martin, C-Span, and other media outlets. Her appearances have allowed her to passionately advocate for gun violence prevention, building better relationships between police and communities of color, racial equity, and women's empowerment, amplifying her message and reaching broader audiences.
Kayla's commitment to community engagement, media appearances, collaborations with homicide survivors and co-survivors, and influential figures demonstrate her unwavering dedication to driving meaningful change. Her extraordinary journey, extensive expertise, and media presence make her a powerful voice and advocate for Black women, creating pathways for greater equity, opportunity, and social transformation.
Kayla holds an AA and BS in interdisciplinary studies and pursued her MA in human services counseling, crisis response, and trauma care from Liberty University. She is also a certified member of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, a trained trauma responder, a transformational leadership coach, an executive thought partner, and a community organizer, exemplifying her dedication to holistic and compassionate support.
Kayla A. Hicks's extraordinary journey, collaborations with esteemed figures, and influential media appearances solidify her role as a leading advocate for Black women, igniting change and fostering a more just and inclusive society.

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"Together we can create a world where the voices of Black women are heard, respected, and valued."
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- Kayla Hicks, Sustain Equity Group CEO & President