Building Movements, Empowering Communities

From organizing campus protests to helping shape public policy in multiple states, AJ Lucky has dedicated his career to creating opportunities for communities that have too often been overlooked. A Detroit native who now calls Indiana home, Lucky recently returned to the Hoosier State after leading advocacy efforts in Massachusetts. Today, through his consulting and media firm, Black Medium, he is combining strategy, storytelling and community engagement to help organizations transform ideas into action. Indy Far East Magazine recently sat down with Lucky to discuss his journey, his passion for advocacy and his vision for Indiana’s future.

Q: Tell us about your journey and what inspired your passion for community advocacy.

AJ Lucky: I was born in Detroit and I’m the oldest of five boys. My parents believed strongly in giving back and making education a priority, so they moved our family to Anderson, Indiana, to give us greater opportunities. That foundation shaped everything. I earned a full scholarship to Purdue University, where I studied English literature with minors in theater and African American Studies. While there, I became involved in student organizing and advocacy, helping lead demonstrations that resulted in meaningful policy changes on campus. Those experiences showed me that when communities organize, they can create lasting change.

Q: Your career has taken you from education to public policy. What has that experience taught you?

AJ Lucky: Every step has reinforced that policies affect people’s everyday lives. Whether I was teaching students, advocating for juvenile justice reform in Indiana, or lobbying for affordable housing and economic mobility in Massachusetts, the common thread has always been helping people gain access to opportunities. I’ve been fortunate to work on legislation that protected young people, expanded educational opportunities and strengthened economic security for families. Those victories showed me that advocacy isn’t just about speaking up—it’s about creating systems that work better for everyone.

Q: Why was it important for you to return to Indiana?

AJ Lucky: I spent time traveling overseas and working in different parts of the country, but I felt called to come back home. Indiana is where I first learned what community organizing could accomplish, and I believe my talents can make a real impact here. That’s what inspired me to launch Black Medium, where we’re helping organizations move their mission into movement through strategic consulting, community engagement and media storytelling.

Q: You often talk about investing in young people. Why is youth engagement so important?

AJ Lucky: Young people are our future, but they’re also our present. There is so much untapped potential in our communities. When we plant the right seeds, they produce incredible fruit. Even if they can’t vote yet, young people are affected by the policies being written today. They deserve to understand how government works, how advocacy works and how their voices can influence change. History has shown us that youth have always played an important role in advancing civil rights and social progress, and I believe they will continue to do so.