Project 21 member Derrick Hollie is the president of Reaching America, a non-profit group he founded that addresses issues affecting the black community such as criminal justice reform, occupational licensing, energy poverty and free speech. He is a host of the weekly “Reaching America On Demand” podcast.
Derrick became engaged in public policy after an extensive career in advertising and marketing. He previously served as executive director of the marketing firm Fresh Solutions Now and president of Global Advertising 1st. He was also the national sales manager for the black-focused Radio One media network (now called Urban One).
He is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast management and communications. A recipient of the ETSU Alumni Award of Honor, he attended the school on a football scholarship and was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.