Click HERE for more information on National Faith & Blue WeekendThe Reverend Markel Hutchins has been impacting and touching the lives of others nearly his entire life. Widely regarded as one of the most gifted, charismatic and inspirational leaders of his generation, he embodies servant leadership. Heeding Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call to “make a career of humanity,” Hutchins has gained a national reputation advocating fairness and justice. His grassroots advocacy, charisma and compelling oratory have propelled him into the midst of iconic civil rights leaders from Coretta Scott King and Dorothy Height to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. His uncanny ability to rally diverse people around a common cause has endeared World leaders ranging from corporate CEO’s to college presidents and led one prominent newspaper columnist to dub him “the new kid on the national civil rights leadership block,” for his role in addressing contemporary social challenges, particularly those relating to minority and other disadvantaged communities.
From 1997 until 2006, Hutchins simultaneously served as National President and CEO of the National Youth Connection (N.Y.C.), Inc., then America’s only young-adult led civil rights group, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of its’ research and education fund, the National Youth Challenge, Inc. Hutchins oversaw N.Y.C.’s dramatic expansion from the small start-up nonprofit that he founded as a college student, to become a respected national advocacy organization that garnered the significant financial backing of dozens of major corporations. It was during his tenure at the helm of N.Y.C. that Hutchins solidified his place among the nation’s leading voices on civil and human rights matters.
Since childhood, Hutchins has been a commanding speaker, as well as, an affective and effective activist. He has led dozens of marches, protests, rallies and other demonstrations in various parts of the country. In the wake of the November 2006 murder of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in a botched Atlanta drug raid and the attempted police cover-up that ensued, Hutchins led the massive outcry and took the helm of the campaign to bring forth truth regarding the now infamous police shooting. Because of his ability to advocate and negotiate with local, state and federal authorities, Hutchins’ involvement in the Johnston case prompted the federal investigation of Atlanta police corruption that has since netted numerous arrests, a total revamping of the police department, the historic indictment, guilty pleas and imprisonment of the officers involved and an unprecedented settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Johnston Estate against the City of Atlanta. His successes resulted in the United States House Judiciary Committee collaborating with Hutchins and the ACLU in holding a congressional hearing to examine the Johnston case, the use of confidential informants in our national criminal justice system and widespread police misconduct therein.
Hutchins has previously and continues to serve on a number of boards, committees and commissions for respected institutions such as the DeKalb County, Georgia Board of Education; the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Pulling America's Communities Together (PACT); the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; the Edwards-Miller Foundation for Physical Disabilities; and the Catalyst Project. In addition to having held numerous leadership positions, Hutchins has received many accolades including an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree for ministerial accomplishments