Our FOUNDER

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​Kayla A. Hicks

​President & CEO

Kayla Hicks is the founder, President, and CEO of Sustain Equity Group (SEG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering professional equity for black women in violence prevention, justice, education, economics, the arts, and other fields. SEG’s flagship program, U-TRAIN, provides trauma-informed leadership development training, mentoring, and networking opportunities. 

Kayla’s unrelenting motivation stems from her profound upbringing and subsequent story. She withstood the foster care system as a state ward child, and overcame childhood violence, neglect, and abandonment. However, the unfortunate passing of her identical twin sister from malnutrition and dehydration led her to dedicate her life to serving others in honor of her identical sister. She had endured adversity that would be unfathomable to most, and every since the age of 15 when she ran away; she has bettered the lives of herself and countless others. 

Importantly, Kayla, as a former leader in the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, was an innovative change-maker within the movement. In 2013 Kayla was the first person in the Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) movement to put a lens on the daily gun violence experienced by black and brown communities.  A sustained commitment to these communities led to a profound change in policy and programs in Virginia that are now saving lives.

In 2020, Kayla started SEG built on her own life experiences and her in-depth work in the movement.  Kayla understands the difficulties facing black and brown women in the movement, and her goal is to support these women to increase their health and support and ultimately create a movement that is both successful, inclusive, and supportive.

​Kayla’s impressive career is full of rich and varied experiences. She has worked as a constituency state director for the 2008 Obama campaign, strategic planning coordinator for labor giant SEIU, a bail enforcement agent, private detective for J.M. Richard Investigations, and director of outreach for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. In 2017, Kayla founded her own consulting firm, BridgeOver Consulting Group LLC. She has served as a managing consultant (for professional athletes and A-list actors/artists), transformational leadership coach, impact strategist, and trauma response specialist. Her volunteer work included activities with Hampton City Diversity Commission, Meals on Wheels, Feeding America, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. 

Kayla holds an AA and BS in interdisciplinary studies and studied for her MA in human services counseling, crisis response, and trauma care from Liberty University. She is a certified member of the Association of Christian Counselors.

"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