“You should not underestimate the power you have to affirm the humanity and dignity of the people around you. When you do that, they will teach you something about what you need to learn about human dignity, but also what you do to be a change agent.” -Bryan Stevenson

​Our sincere thanks to the following change agents, who understood that Michael R. Hollis’ journey as the founder of Air Atlanta, a pioneering Black-owned luxury airline and a symbol of empowerment was far more than a mere business venture to be simply digitally displayed on Concourse D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, but instead it was a blueprint for equity. Their gratitude reflects a shared mission, to use this story as a tool for aspiring entrepreneurs of color. Together, they are dismantling the discriminatory barriers that have historically stifled progress, ensuring that a new generation of leaders is seen, valued, and empowered:

Atlanta City Government

​Mayor Andre Dickens

Former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

Former Mayor Bill Campbell

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin

Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Former Mayor Ambassador Andrew J. Young

Office of The Mayor

La Chandra Burks

Courtney English

Cyril Turner, Commissioner, Department of Public Works

Atlanta City Council President

The Honorable Marci Collier Overstreet

Atlanta City Council Members

The Honorables Byron Amos, Kelsea Bond, Michael J. Bond, Andrea Boone, Eshé Collins, Jason Dozier, Dustin Hillis, Liliana Kaktiari, Antonio Lewis, Wayne Martin, Mary Norwood, Alex Wan, Matt Westmoreland, Jason Winston and Thomas Worthy

​

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Ricky Smith, General Manager

Jan Lennon, Executive Deputy General Manager 

Frank Rucker, Senior Deputy Manager of Infrastructure

Michael L. Smith, Business Advisor to the General Manager 

Fulton County Government

The Honorable Robb Pitts, Fulton County Chairman

Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, Vice Chair

​

State of Georgia

Former Governor Joe Frank Harris

​

Congress of the United States of America-

U.S. Senate-

The Honorables Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, Ambassador Wyche Fowler and Sam Nunn

​​

House of Representatives-

Congressman Sanford Bishop, Congressman James Clyburn, Congressman Hank Johnson, Congresswoman Lucy McBath, Congressman Gregory Meeks and Congresswoman Nikema Williams

​

Keepers of The Legacy

Billye Aaron

Kimberly Alexander

Todd Alexander

Darrell Anderson

George Andrews

Dr. Kristy M. Arnold

Le Ann Arnold

Patricia Arnold

Alex Avant

Vince “the Voice” Bailey

Paxton Baker

Danny Bakewell

Eldrin Bell

Rudy M. Beserra

Nancy Boxill

Neysa Brown

Rev. Willetta Brown

Jan Bryson

Matthew Butler

Cassius Butts

Pedro Cherry

Ray Cobb

Janice Colbert

Melanie and Rev. Sean Conner

Thomas Cuffie

George Dalley

Manny Diaz

William Diggs

Curley Dossman

Eugene Duffy

Elise Durham

Brooke and Rod Edmonds

Dr. Chris Edwards

Imam Plemon El-Amin

Rodney Ellis

Isaac N. Farris

Anissa ‘Doll’ Ferrell

J' Aimeka Jai Ferrell

Morris Finley

Dr. Diamond Ford

Joanne Forte

Patricia Francis

Ricky Francis

Shawn Francis

Vanessa Francis

Dr. Robert Franklin

Jennifer Freeman

Dr. George French

Girard Geeter

Richard Glanton

Ernest Greer

Kayrn Greer

Mojanku Gumbi

Kwanza Hall

Sonja and Dan Halpern

Dr. Sidney and Mary Harris

Marrion Heflin

Harold Henderson

Hakim Hilliard

Andrew S. Hollis

Christiana M. Hollis

Dorothy and Flem H. Hollis

Kara M. Hollis

Virginia E. Hollis

James Hudson

Cecelia Hunter

Walter Hunter

Alicia Ivey

Bennie Ivey

Alphonso Jackson

Phyllis Jackson

Valerie Amanda Jackson

Willard Jackson

Marticia and Rev. Lee Allen Jenkins

Joia M. Johnson

Linda Rice Johnson

Ingrid Saunders Jones

Karyne Jones

Linda Jordan

Patricia and Dr. Ken Julien

Dr. Leroy Keith, Jr.

Larry Kelly

Crystal King

Leslie and Daniel Kolber

Kathy and Bill Lamar

A.J. Land, Jr.

Courtney Lang

Dr. Vincent Lawrence

Denise and Chris Leggett

Paulette Norvel Lewis

Gary Love

Ludacris

Tshepo Mahloele

Jonathan Martin

Rev. Dr. Herman “Skip” Mason

Keith Mason

Dr. Walter Massey

Kent Matlock

Charles R. Matthews

Herman “Carl” McCall

Terri and Rod McClure

Loretta McNeir

Jackson McQuigg

Michael R. Hollis Innovation Academy

Chuck Miller

Rev. Niwanna and George C. Miller

Deborah Mitchell

Erika Mitchell

Tony Mitchell

Popo Molefe

Dave Moody

Paul Nair

Vicki and John Palmer

David K. Panton

Augusta Parizaman

Janice A. Perkins

Verdun S. Perry

Pamela Poitier

Leslie Price

Lance Robertson

Dr. Duwon Robinson

Lisa Robinson

Rick Robinson

Alex Roman

Donata and Michael Ross

Sue Ross

Lovette and Michael Russell

Maria Saporta

Stanley Scott, Jr.

George C. Simkins, III

Jeanne Simkins-Hollis

Frank Ski

Toni Smalls

Bud Smith

Pamela Smith

T. Dallas Smith

Calvin Smyre

Chelsea Spencer

Dave Stanley

Ivenue Love-Stanley and William J. Stanley, III

Rev. Sheila Stephens

Derrick Stroud, II

Francis Tarkenton

Jacques Taylor

Victor Thomas

Coach Gregory Thompson

Philip C. Thompson

Calvin Vismel

Don Ray Von

Felker Ward, Jr.

Carl Ware

B.T. Washington Legacy Foundation, Inc

Dr. Regynald G. Washington

Karim Webb

Westside Future Fund, Inc.

Demetria Wideman

Janay Wilborn

Mack Wilbourn

Kent Williams

Adrienne Lance Willis

Inga Willis

Cleta Winslow

Chris Womack

Chaka Zulu