Meet Kamau As-Salaam

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kamau As-Salaam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kamau, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The Reigning Hope Foundation was created to honor the lives of Reina As-Salaam and Juliana Hope Ferrell, two beautiful young women and best friends whose futures were stolen in a tragic hit-and-run accident. Our parents, heartbroken but determined, founded the organization as a way to ensure their legacies would live on through acts of service, love, and empowerment. This is not just a nonprofit it is a family organization, born from grief and rooted in hope.

As Reina’s oldest brother, I felt called to step up and help carry that mission forward. I took on a leadership role not only to support my parents but to help transform Reigning Hope into something that would truly shift the trajectory of young lives. Our entire family is committed to building something lasting, something meaningful. We wanted this foundation to be a reflection of Reina and Juliana’s light something that would continue to shine for years to come.

At the same time, I grew up in South Atlanta and the Tri-Cities area. I know firsthand what it’s like to have dreams bigger than your circumstances, and how powerful it can be when someone believes in you. For me, this work is personal. It’s about creating opportunity where it’s often missing. It’s about making sure our young people don’t just survive but thrive. We wanted to build a platform where scholarships are more than just money they are a message that someone sees your potential. Where mentorship feels like family. Where career development is hands-on and rooted in the real needs of our community.

Reigning Hope is the result of love, legacy, and lived experience. It exists to give back, to build up, and to ensure that our story becomes a spark for someone else’s future. This is our way of turning loss into leadership, and pain into purpose.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has always been centered around service whether through planning cities or empowering communities. I’m currently the Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning for Henry County, Georgia, and I also serve as the CEO of the Reigning Hope Foundation. On the surface, those may seem like very different roles, but at their core, they are both about building. I help build better communities during the day, and I help build better futures through Reigning Hope.

What sets me apart is my ability to balance strategy with heart. I come from a big family, raised by a Christian mother and a Muslim father, with five siblings and a home full of love, leadership, and resilience. When my younger sister Reina As-Salaam and her best friend Juliana Hope Ferrell were taken from us too soon, it became a defining moment in my life. I had a choice to stay in my grief or to rise and lead. I chose the latter. That’s how I came to help lead Reigning Hope.

I stepped into the nonprofit space not just as a professional, but as a brother and a builder. I wanted to help my parents and Juliana’s mother turn their vision into something real, something sustainable. Reigning Hope is our family’s commitment to making sure no young person feels unseen, unheard, or unsupported. We provide scholarships, host career development events, and create safe spaces where potential is nurtured and celebrated.

Getting here wasn’t easy. I’ve faced burnout, doubt, and the emotional weight of carrying both professional and personal loss. But I’ve learned that vision is nothing without consistency. I’ve learned to ask for help, to build strong teams, and to create systems that don’t just depend on me, but can grow beyond me. And I’ve learned that purpose will keep you going even when motivation fades.

What I want the world to know is that Reigning Hope is more than a foundation. It’s a promise. A promise that young people from South Atlanta, from underserved communities, from families like mine, will have a place where they are seen, supported, and empowered. My story is still being written, but if it can serve as fuel for someone else’s fire, then I know I’m walking in purpose.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to town, I’d want them to experience the real Atlanta, not just the landmarks, but the rhythm of how we live down here. We’d definitely hit some of my favorite neighborhoods like Virginia Highlands for a chill afternoon stroll, or head over to Edgewood if we’re in the mood for something with more edge and energy. If it’s the weekend, a night out at MJQ down at Underground Atlanta is a must. That place is pure Atlanta energy.

Food is non-negotiable, so we’re hitting up Oreathas at The Point for some elevated Southern dining, Pelicana Chicken for that crispy Korean flavor, and Bottle Rocket Fine Food & Beverage for sushi and vibes. Of course, The Real Milk and Honey in College Park is on the list too, brunch never misses. While we’re down there, we’d spend time in downtown Hapeville and College Park, which are both seeing a lot of new energy and development. It’s been cool watching those communities grow while still keeping their soul. And if we’re craving serious barbecue, we’re going to Rodney Scott’s BBQ because that’s some of the best pitmaster flavor in the city. I’d also make sure we stopped by D’Juan’s New Orleans Bistro for a taste of that rich Cajun and Creole flavor, one of the best hidden gems in the perimeter.

We’d definitely catch a game or two. I spend a lot of time at Mercedes Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena cheering on the Falcons, Hawks, and Atlanta United. There’s nothing like the energy in those arenas. If baseball’s in season, we’d hit The Battery to catch a Braves game or just hang out and enjoy the scene. I’d also take them to Gateway Arena for an Atlanta Dream or College Park Skyhawks game, it’s underrated, intimate, and a vibe all its own.

For something more cultural, we’d visit the King Center, walk through Ponce City Market, and take a long stroll or scooter ride down the Beltline. The Busy Bee Café is a must for soul food, and Piedmont Park or Grant Park offers the perfect mix of nature and people watching. And if there’s a concert in town, whether it’s at The Eastern, Chastain Park, or Lakewood Amphitheatre, we’re pulling up.

But honestly, the best part of the trip wouldn’t be any of that. It would be the moments in my own backyard. Kids splashing in the kiddie pool. Music playing. Adults laughing, sharing stories, enjoying libations, and grilling under the Atlanta sun. That’s the real Atlanta experience. That’s the magic. It’s not just about what we’re doing, it’s about who we’re doing it with.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without question, I dedicate this story to the parents of Reina and Juliana. Reina’s mother, Judge Rashida Oliver, her father, Akil As-Salaam, and Juliana’s mother, Jane Mays Ferrell. They are the reason Reigning Hope exists. In the face of unimaginable loss, they chose to build something rooted in love, purpose, and the belief that their daughters’ lives would continue to impact others in powerful ways.

This Foundation is not just an organization. It is a living tribute to who Reina and Juliana were and what they represented. None of this would be possible without the strength and vision of their parents. I also want to recognize their siblings and close friends who have continued to pour into this mission with heart, time, and deep dedication. This is a family movement in every sense of the word.

Their courage and commitment inspire everything we do. They turned grief into action and created a space where young people can dream again, believe again, and be seen. This shoutout belongs to them.

Website: https://www.reigninghopeinc.org/

Instagram: reigninghopeinc

Linkedin: The Reigning Hope Foundation, Inc.

Facebook: Reigning Hope Foundation, Inc.