Inspiring Conversations with Ilham (Illy) Askia of The East Lake Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilham (Illy) Askia.

Hi Ilham (Illy), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Early in my career, I knew I wanted to work at the intersection of access and opportunity. I started in education in Washington, D.C., teaching in communities full of talent but lacking in opportunity–education reform was needed. My experiences in school systems led me to criminal justice reform, where I spent 15 years building and leading Gideon’s Promise, a national organization dedicated to ensuring quality public defense for vulnerable people. That work taught me the interconnectivity of these systems. If school systems failed their children, the children could potentially end up in the criminal legal system as adults. I constantly questioned the social factors that led people to their situations and whether society truly looked at the root causes of outcomes I witnessed during my early professional life.

Today, as President and CEO of the East Lake Foundation, I weave these social justice threads together: equitable access to resources for people who have historically been denied. We work with partners across mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education, community wellness and economic vitality. This integrated approach to community revitalization has evolved and scaled in partnership with Purpose Built Communities, a national network that now supports 28 community organizations across 15 states, all inspired by the East Lake model. The nationwide success proves that real transformation happens when you integrate systems instead of keeping them siloed.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Leadership is not always easy. Some of my biggest challenges in the past have been my internal struggle believing that having the leadership title required that I have all of the answers. I felt I needed to solve every issue. That was exhausting and can become very limiting. Over the years, I’ve learned that leadership is about leveraging the strengths of your team and allowing growth opportunities for everyone. Some of the best leaders I’ve had the pleasure to work with did not have the big titles.

Real leadership means recognizing the talent on your team, what motivates them and giving gratitude for their contributions that support the overall mission of the organization. It means creating space for people to step into their own authority. That shift didn’t happen overnight, but it’s changed everything about how I lead.

In my younger years, I dealt with imposter syndrome, especially as a Black woman coming from very humble beginnings. It started while attending one of the most prestigious institutions in the country and then reintroduced itself while leading conversations at the national level. There were moments when I questioned whether I belonged in the room. Over time, I realized that not only did I belong in the room, I was likely the most qualified person there to speak about the issues I was addressing. Lived experience gave me credibility and effectively representing the people I serve was my motivation to get over “the syndrome.” When I shifted my mindset, everything changed.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The East Lake Foundation was established in 1995 with a focus on revitalizing the East Lake neighborhood in Atlanta and creating genuine opportunities for families in the community. Thirty years ago, East Lake faced an 86.5% unemployment rate and a crime rate 18 times the national average. The East Lake Foundation was formed to support an integrated and holistic community approach providing mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education and community wellness resources through public and private partnerships.

What sets us apart is something we call “quarterback leadership.” While many organizations address one specific social issue, we work across all areas simultaneously because we know successful execution requires cross-collaboration. We are the “keeper of the community mission,” provide strategic planning and thought leadership, and monitor progress across multiple partners and systems. We are known for the transformation of East Lake Meadows public housing development to Villages of East Lake, a mixed-income community designed and built in partnership with residents, philanthropists and the housing authority. We built an award-winning school, Charles R. Drew Charter School, the first charter school in the Atlanta Public School District. We supported the construction of the East Lake Family YMCA, strategically attached to Drew’s elementary academy. In partnership with Drew, built a robust college and career readiness program at the senior academy and created an education continuum with early childhood partners, so that children have a comprehensive birth-to-career education.

I’m proud of our commitment to meeting people where they are in life. We don’t come with a one-size-fits-all solution. Every family has different needs and different aspirations, and our work reflects that respect for individual choice and agency. Our team is driven by empathy. We genuinely care about how people experience their work with us, how we work together and whether our programming actually contributes to families thriving, not just surviving.

What were you like growing up?
I was a child who learned from observation. Growing up in a single-parent home, I watched my mother navigate impossible circumstances with grace and determination. She worked tirelessly to provide for four children, and watching her taught me something essential about resilience. It’s not about struggling, but about finding a way forward. That shaped how I see and solve problems, even today.

I was also naturally drawn to leadership, even when I didn’t want to be in a leadership role. I found myself in roles where people expected me to guide. I led after-school programs with younger kids, got involved in student government and stepped into positions where I had to figure things out quickly. Those early experiences taught me that leadership is about showing up when people need you.

What I remember most is my mother’s insistence that we could do better than the generation before us. That wasn’t about judgment, but about possibility. She also taught me that people are always carrying more than you can see. That understanding shaped my empathy. Good leadership has to make room for the full humanity of people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eastlakefoundation.org