Hope Institute Co-Founder Liz Huntley Shares her Inspiring Story
President Chuck Redden and Rotarian Sara Ford with Liz Huntley.
The Rotary Club of Birmingham recently welcomed guest speaker Liz Huntley, Hope Institute Co-Founder. She shared her remarkable life story overcoming unimaginable poverty, abuse and family instability to become a successful attorney, author and child advocate.
"I'm a lawyer by day and an advocate by triumph,” Huntley said. “Although my primary profession is practicing law, I'm a dedicated, committed child advocate."
Huntley detailed the educational experiences and educators that allowed her to find safety, purpose and direction, including a 1st grade teacher who told Liz she was the brightest student she would ever teach.
"I walked into that school as this withdrawn child broken, all those things going on. And I walked out with a smile on my face and a valedictorian medallion around my neck."
Liz explained the inspiration behind the Hope Institute, which she co-founded with Judge Drayton Nabors to equip teachers to help students build character and identify their purpose.
"When I tell you I know what darkness is like, I know what darkness is like. But I'm standing here today. I'm standing here today able to share this story as an educated person with a wonderful husband, a beautiful family, working for a great law firm doing so many amazing things with my life not by my power but by the power that God vested in people like you. Everyday people that can do the smallest of things that can touch and affect the life of a person."
About Liz Huntley
Elizabeth “Liz” Huntley is an accomplished litigation attorney, and dedicated child advocate, author and lecturer. She practices law at Lightfoot, Franklin & White, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama. She is the recipient of many professional honors and awards, including membership in The National Black Lawyers–Top 100 organization and is included in the 2023 Best Lawyers national publication.
Liz is the President and Co-Founder of the Hope Institute which is an organization in Alabama that helps schools build a culture of character for their students. Liz is a leader in the movement to expand access to high quality Pre-K to all four-year-olds in Alabama and has received several state and national awards for her work for children. She was named a 2020 Momentum Top 5 “Women of Impact” in Alabama and received a 2021 Alabama Women Firsts award. Liz is also a Birmingham Law Foundation Fellow and an Alabama Law Foundation Fellow.
Liz serves on multiple civic boards, commissions and tasks forces throughout Alabama and the country. She regularly speaks to groups throughout the country, of-ten referencing her own journey as described in her published memoir titled More Than A Bird.
Liz earned her law degree from the University Of Alabama School Of Law where she now serves on the Law School Foundation Board of Governors. She received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University, where she is now a member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees.
Liz and her husband Tony live in Clanton, Alabama and have three children.