A.J. Lucky
A.J. Lucky is a former educator, award-winning community organizer, advocate, and political strategist recognized for advancing equity, economic mobility, and systems change for marginalized communities. His work spans education reform, youth justice advocacy, public policy, and movement building on a national level. Throughout his career, A.J. has led campaigns and coalitions that expanded opportunity for underserved communities. In Indiana, he partnered with local schools and community stakeholders to close opportunity gaps, organized to elect public education champions to the Indianapolis school board, and advocated for youth justice reforms at the Indiana Statehouse. Through his work with the Youth Justice Coalition, convened by CPLI, he helped secure the passage of SEA 368, landmark legislation that establishes automatic expungement pathways for certain nonviolent juvenile records, standardizes
competency-to-stand-trial procedures, and prohibits minors from being held in adult facilities while awaiting trial. As Founder and Lead Consultant of BLQ Medium, A.J. leads a multidisciplinary firm helping social impact organizations, communities, and individuals turn their mission into movement.
While in Boston, A.J. served as Director of Advocacy and lobbyist at Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath), a nearly 200-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women and families move out of poverty and toward long-term economic mobility. At EMPath, he led the Voices Advocacy Council, partnering closely with women advocates with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability to elevate participant voices into policy spaces. He has led advocacy wins across Massachusetts related to the state’s Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), Rental Assistance for Transitional Aid families (RAFT), HomeBASE housing supports, and expanded access to free local adult education opportunities. A.J. also helped launch EMPath’s inaugural national Action Summit in Washington, D.C., bringing together advocates, practitioners, and leaders to
advance economic mobility solutions nationwide.
At Social Venture Partners Boston, A.J. served as Vice President of Programs, where he worked within a venture philanthropy model that combined grantmaking with hands-on capacity building. He co-managed a portfolio of nonprofit grantees that received membership-based pro bono consulting and strategic support from a network of engaged philanthropic partners. In this role, he also designed and hosted high-impact member and community events that strengthened cross-sector collaboration, deepened partner engagement, and supported organizations in scaling their social impact. Previously, A.J. served as National Organizing Manager at Educators for Excellence, advising advocacy and organizing teams across Minnesota, California, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
A.J. is an alum of the Victory Institute, an organization dedicated to supporting the election and advancement of LGBTQ+ leaders nationwide, and is a 2024 fellow with the New Leaders Council. He was elected as a State Convention Delegate in 2022 for the
Indiana Democratic Party. He also served as Program Director for Young Democrats of America and the Vice President of the Young Democrats of America. In his free time he hosts BLQ podcast, amplifying LGBTQ+ BIPOC voices and experiences.
The A.J. Attended Purdue University, where he studied English Literature and African American Studies, and is currently completing an MBA at Indiana University.
