Billy Michael Honor is a public scholar, speaker, and social change organizer whose work sits at the intersection of intellectual wellness, resilience, and community empowerment. A sought-after thought leader, Billy is widely recognized for helping individuals and organizations cultivate the intellectual practices and personal alignment needed to turn adversity into acceleration.

Billy previously served as the Organizing Director of the New Georgia Project, the nationally respected civic engagement and civil rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams. In this role, he directed statewide campaigns to build power and advance justice among historically disenfranchised communities—efforts that garnered national media attention and became celebrated as one of the most promising contemporary expressions of public faith witness. His leadership earned him recognition as one of the “20 Faith Leaders to Watch” by the Center for American Progress.

In acknowledgment of his impact, Atlanta Magazine named Billy one of the 500 Most Powerful People in Atlanta in both 2021 and 2022. He also served as the Religion and Racial Justice Fellow for the Aspen Institute’s prestigious Religion & Society Program.

Billy’s work is shaped not only by his public accomplishments but also by a deeply personal journey. After a season of poor decisions and self-sabotage, he committed himself to a life of intellectual rigor, intentional growth, and helping others come back after setback. His public scholarship and teaching emphasize the transformative power of imagination, critical inquiry, and disciplined self-reflection.

Today, Billy facilitates Truth on the Loose, a public scholarship, speaking, and digital media company, and collaborates with changemaking organizations throughout the Deep South to helping historically disenfranchised communities build power. His forthcoming memoir, When Doves Become Owls, chronicles how the path of self-sabotage can lead to profound self-discovery.

Billy is a graduate of Emory University and the Interdenominational Theological Center.