Meet Our Team
Pastor Franklin Hobbs
Founder
Eric Kennedy
Eric Kennedy was born and raised in Boston, MA. Throughout his life, he has dedicated himself to community service as a member of the Guardian Angels, Boy Scouts of America, and various civic groups. After a period of incarceration from 2012 to 2017, Eric emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to supporting those who are incarcerated and returning citizens. He now serves on the Board of Healing Our Land Inc. and is the President of the Massachusetts chapter of CURE (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants). Guided by his faith, Eric is devoted to serving this often overlooked population. with hopes to help reduce recidivism.
Dr. DeAnza A. Cook
DeAnza Avonna Cook (she/her) is a provost postdoctoral fellow and assistant professor of contemporary African American History and Black Leadership at The Ohio State University. Dr. Cook is currently writing a book about race, social reform, and law enforcement in Boston and beyond during the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements of the 1960s. She deeply enjoys studying histories of social justice and social struggle and delights in teaching true stories about power and politics; policing and punishment; and freedom and liberation. Her writing on urban criminalization and law enforcement in America’s past and present is featured in the Metropole, Black Perspectives, and Annual Review of Criminology.
Dr. Cook graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History in 2017 from the University of Virginia. She earned a Master’s degree and a Doctorate (PhD) in History from Harvard University in 2019 and 2023 respectively. Before joining the faculty at The Ohio State University, she taught Race, Civil Rights, and Constitutional Policing seminars for History Teachers and Law Enforcement Officers in Virginia, as well as African American History courses for Incarcerated Youth and Incarcerated Adults in Massachusetts.
To invigorate her research and teaching, Dr. Cook works closely with currently/formerly incarcerated community organizers with the Democracy Behind Bars Coalition to advance Jail-Based Voting in Boston, End Felony Disenfranchisement in Massachusetts, and to advocate for life-affirming CORI Reforms and Reentry Resources for people most directly affected by policing and incarceration in the Greater Boston area. Above all, Dr. Cook is passionate about Black History in addition to educating and empowering people inside and outside of prison walls. She has served as a Jail-Based Voting Volunteer and Board Member of Healing Our Land, Inc. (HOLI) Ministries since 2023.
Priscilla Flint
From the vibrant streets of Roxbury to the halls of educational reform, Priscilla Flint’s story is one of resilience, empowerment, and transformative leadership. A proud product of the Boston Public School system, Priscilla’s pursuit of education led her to Cambridge College, where she earned a Master’s in Education. This achievement marked the beginning of a journey that would see her transition from finance to becoming a beacon of hope and change in Boston.
Priscilla’s deep understanding of the challenges facing her community propelled her into activism and leadership. She played a pivotal role in establishing vital organizations like the Black Local Organizing Committee, the Marcus Anthony Hall Educational Institute, and the Black Economic Justice Institute, Inc. (BEJI), championing economic justice and community engagement. Her efforts extended to leading the Black Boston Covid-19 Coalition, addressing pandemic impacts, and contributing to Mothers for Justice and Equality, the Boston Jobs Coalition, and more.
Despite personal tragedies, including the loss of her two sons and battles with mental health stigma, Priscilla’s spirit remained unbroken. Her resilience is not just a personal triumph but a beacon that guides her work in empowering others. As a licensed minister and a voice on Boston Praise Radio & TV Networks, she continues to inspire through her memoir and her program ‘People Power with Priscilla.’
Priscilla Flint’s journey is a testament to the power of unwavering determination and commitment to justice. Her legacy is etched in the countless lives she has uplifted and the systemic changes she has championed in Boston.
Dr. Cook graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History in 2017 from the University of Virginia. She earned a Master’s degree and a Doctorate (PhD) in History from Harvard University in 2019 and 2023 respectively. Before joining the faculty at The Ohio State University, she taught Race, Civil Rights, and Constitutional Policing seminars for History Teachers and Law Enforcement Officers in Virginia, as well as African American History courses for Incarcerated Youth and Incarcerated Adults in Massachusetts.
To invigorate her research and teaching, Dr. Cook works closely with currently/formerly incarcerated community organizers with the Democracy Behind Bars Coalition to advance Jail-Based Voting in Boston, End Felony Disenfranchisement in Massachusetts, and to advocate for life-affirming CORI Reforms and Reentry Resources for people most directly affected by policing and incarceration in the Greater Boston area. Above all, Dr. Cook is passionate about Black History in addition to educating and empowering people inside and outside of prison walls. She has served as a Jail-Based Voting Volunteer and Board Member of Healing Our Land, Inc. (HOLI) Ministries since 2023.