Joseph E. Hines II is a Detroit native, founder, storyteller, and speaker with over 16 years of experience across education, financial services, and non-profit consulting. He brings a powerful blend of culturally responsive pedagogical practice, restorative justice, financial strategy, organizational development, and visionary leadership to every space he enters. Rooted in Detroit yet working nationally, Joseph’s mission is to create thriving, equitable communities through education, liberation, and legacy building.
Joseph is the founder of Sankofa Aya Co. (SAC), LLC, where he leads initiatives centered on culturally responsive training, organizational strategy, donor cultivation, and restorative practice implementation. His work supports non-profits, schools, and mission-aligned organizations in building capacity, community, and long-term sustainability.
In addition to his role at SAC, Joseph currently serves as a Financial Representative with Lifetime Financial Growth of Michigan, LLC, where he offers tailored, purpose-driven financial strategies for individuals, families, and small businesses. He previously served as a Financial Educator and Agent at New York Life Insurance Company, where he helped clients achieve their goals through personalized planning and innovative benefits solutions.
As a speaker and programming consultant for Black Male Educators Alliance, Joseph co-developed and sustains flagship programs such as the Principal Wellness Fellowship, Early Career Teachers Fellowship, K–12 professional development, and annual convenings that advance equity-centered education and leadership. He is a certified Restorative Practices trainer through the International Institute of Restorative Practices and continues to design transformative spaces for personal and collective healing.
Joseph’s career in education spans 14 years, culminating in his leadership as School Director (Principal) of University Prep Art and Design High School (2018–2021). Under his tenure, the school achieved over 90% graduation and college acceptance rates for three consecutive years, a testament to his belief in education as a tool for liberation.
Joseph holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education as a Roy Romer Teacher Fellow. He is a proud cum laude graduate of Morehouse College, where he earned his degree in Health and Physical Education (Department of Kinesiology, Sports Studies, and Physical Education). At Morehouse, he deepened his understanding of Black identity and service through the Ndugu and Nzinga Rites of Passage Nation and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
He credits his parents, Joseph and Patricia Hines, and his grandmother, Dr. Ellen Hines-Johnson, for instilling in him the values of education, service, and transformation. Joseph resides in East English Village, Detroit, where he regularly hosts family and friends, and lives by the philosophy of Ubuntu: “I am because we are.”
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.