A native of Oakland, California, Destiny Thomas, PhD is a legal scholar, entering her third year at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Dr. Thomas is the founder and CEO of Thrivance Group, a socially responsible, for-profit firm dedicated to enhancing the safety, health, and accessibility of public spaces and services. Thrivance Group focuses on marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and transgender individuals, as well as people with disabilities.Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fisk University (2006), a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Health and Non-Profit Management from Tennessee State University (2008), and a Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (2016), Dr. Thomas is a distinguished socio-cultural anthropologist with over 15 years of experience in developing equitable systems within governmental and non-profit sectors. In 2020, Dr. Thomas’s work was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America on a segment showcasing “Adding a New Dimension to Urban Planning.” More recently, under the executive guidance of President Joe Biden, Dr. Thomas was appointed by Secretary Buttigieg to the Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity (ACTE). Dr. Thomas’ professional approach integrates dignity-infused community engagement, participatory governance, interdisciplinary praxis, racial equity, gender studies, and anti-displacement strategies. Dr. Thomas is recognized for her commitment to servant leadership and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.