Local influencers: Hakim Cunningham

Short bio:

Father, brother, son, community organizer, activist, motivational speaker, Hakim Cunningham is currently the Social Justice Policy Coordinator with the Transportation for Massachusetts. He was former Deputy Director of Boston Workers Alliance, while simultaneously with the Boston Jobs Coalition as their Campaign Coordinator.

Who has been your most influential mentor?

My mother and grandmother are the most influential mentors. I also had a few grade school teachers that have helped me along the way.

How did you get where you are today?

Perseverance and determination with a great grounding by my family.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself consulting and public speaking to empower others.

What about this city inspires you?

Everything. Boston is a worldclass city with international ties that make it a go-to place for all the global elite. Building a bridge between Boston’s poorest neighborhoods and Boston’s richest neighborhoods. This city could be so much more only if those who know the truth step up to the plate.

Finish these sentences:

Boston should be … a business city that incubates up and coming startups and have a better support system for ideas to develop. It should also be on the forefront of technology.

Boston could be … better if it consciously supported black men and connected them to infrastructure development.

Boston wants to be … a hyper-segregated city.

Boston needs … a city council and Mayor committed to the most economically disenfranchised population bringing new resources that address the whole person.

This Q&A is part of a series that EpiCenter Community created to provide a spotlight on “local heroes” who are making a contribution to their community.