Malik K. Brown
Consultant, Equity Practitioner, LGBTQ Advocate, Political Strategist, Changemaker
About Malik
Malik Brown is an award-winning global LGBTQ advocate and political strategist, a first-generation American, and a lifelong Georgian. He has been profiled in prestigious outlets like "CNN", "NBC News", and "The Hill". His writings have been showcased in national publications like "Cosmopolitan", "them.", and "Out Magazine." A sought-after speaker, Malik has delivered addresses on stages at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Ad Week New York, and Revolt World. He has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Power 100 list of Atlanta’s most influential leaders.
Brown is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Harbor & Haven Consulting, a Black-owned and LGBTQ-owned boutique firm focused on helping organizations advance their belonging and inclusion goals through strategic solutions. Brown also serves as the Project Director of the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study at the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. In this role, he leads the day-to-day efforts to explore the feasibility and sustainability of a groundbreaking, next-generation LGBTQ+ Community Center in Atlanta
Previously appointed as the City of Atlanta's Director of LGBTQ Affairs by former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brown served as the first full-time official in the Southeastern United States to focus on better connecting the LGBTQ community with municipal government. In his seven years of service, he drove systemic change and advanced equity by advising Mayor Bottoms and Mayor Andre Dickens on policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the LGBTQ community. Brown was a founding member of the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and served as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. As one of City Hall's key advisors on Human Rights, Brown co-led the development of Atlanta's Human Rights Stakeholder report, which accompanied Atlanta's successful bid to be a host city for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
During the 2020 Presidential Race, Malik was appointed to the Biden campaign's Out for Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council, a national advisory coalition of LGBTQ+ leaders committed to electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. During the 2021 Georgia runoff election, Brown was recruited by the historic U.S. Senate campaign of Reverend Raphael Warnock to serve as the Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement. In this role, Brown helped the campaign reach, mobilize, and energize LGBTQ+ voters in Georgia.
A proud Executive Committee member of the Human Rights Campaign's National Board of Governors, Brown brings a unique combination of political strategy, LGBTQ advocacy, and DEI leadership to his work. Additionally, Brown is a member of Rainbow Railroad's Board of Directors, Emory University's Board of Visitors, Morehouse School of Medicine's HIV Health Equity Task Force, and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation Young Executives Board. Always eager to continue learning, Brown is an alum of LEAD Atlanta, Regional Leadership Institute, and the American-German Institute. Brown has had the honor of throwing the Ceremonial Opening Pitch for the 2022 MLB World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves, hitting the Golden Spike for Atlanta United, and receiving the Forever 404 award from the Atlanta Hawks.
Brown is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Harbor & Haven Consulting, a Black-owned and LGBTQ-owned boutique firm focused on helping organizations advance their belonging and inclusion goals through strategic solutions. Brown also serves as the Project Director of the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study at the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. In this role, he leads the day-to-day efforts to explore the feasibility and sustainability of a groundbreaking, next-generation LGBTQ+ Community Center in Atlanta
Previously appointed as the City of Atlanta's Director of LGBTQ Affairs by former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brown served as the first full-time official in the Southeastern United States to focus on better connecting the LGBTQ community with municipal government. In his seven years of service, he drove systemic change and advanced equity by advising Mayor Bottoms and Mayor Andre Dickens on policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the LGBTQ community. Brown was a founding member of the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and served as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. As one of City Hall's key advisors on Human Rights, Brown co-led the development of Atlanta's Human Rights Stakeholder report, which accompanied Atlanta's successful bid to be a host city for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
During the 2020 Presidential Race, Malik was appointed to the Biden campaign's Out for Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council, a national advisory coalition of LGBTQ+ leaders committed to electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. During the 2021 Georgia runoff election, Brown was recruited by the historic U.S. Senate campaign of Reverend Raphael Warnock to serve as the Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement. In this role, Brown helped the campaign reach, mobilize, and energize LGBTQ+ voters in Georgia.
A proud Executive Committee member of the Human Rights Campaign's National Board of Governors, Brown brings a unique combination of political strategy, LGBTQ advocacy, and DEI leadership to his work. Additionally, Brown is a member of Rainbow Railroad's Board of Directors, Emory University's Board of Visitors, Morehouse School of Medicine's HIV Health Equity Task Force, and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation Young Executives Board. Always eager to continue learning, Brown is an alum of LEAD Atlanta, Regional Leadership Institute, and the American-German Institute. Brown has had the honor of throwing the Ceremonial Opening Pitch for the 2022 MLB World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves, hitting the Golden Spike for Atlanta United, and receiving the Forever 404 award from the Atlanta Hawks.
Leadership
Founder + Principal Consultant
Harbor & Haven Consulting
Project Director, LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study
Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA)
Former Founding Director, Mayor's Division of LGBTQ Affairs
City of Atlanta
Former Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement, Reverend Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate
Board of Directors, Rainbow Railroad
Former National Board of Governors, Human Rights Campaign
(Former Executive Committee Member)
Board of Visitors, Emory University
Young Executives Board, Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation
Out For Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council (2020)
2022-2023 Leadership Team, LEAD Atlanta
Steering Committee Member, Smart City Expo Atlanta (2019)
Board of Directors, Out Georgia Business Alliance (2020-2022)
Board of Directors, Out Front Theatre Company (2018-2022)
Inauguration Planning Committee Member
Harbor & Haven Consulting
Project Director, LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study
Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA)
Former Founding Director, Mayor's Division of LGBTQ Affairs
City of Atlanta
Former Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement, Reverend Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate
Board of Directors, Rainbow Railroad
Former National Board of Governors, Human Rights Campaign
(Former Executive Committee Member)
Board of Visitors, Emory University
Young Executives Board, Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation
Out For Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council (2020)
2022-2023 Leadership Team, LEAD Atlanta
Steering Committee Member, Smart City Expo Atlanta (2019)
Board of Directors, Out Georgia Business Alliance (2020-2022)
Board of Directors, Out Front Theatre Company (2018-2022)
Inauguration Planning Committee Member
- The Inauguration of Mayor Andre Dickens (2022)
- The Inauguration of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (2018)
Fellowships, Leadership Development Programs, and Notable Appearances
70th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (Cannes, France)
Strange Bedfellows: How Officials & Grindr Made Monkeypox Education “Viral”
Advertising Week New York
Going Viral: How Leaders, Citizens and Grindr Used Communication To Stop MPOX
Creativity Is Inclusive Panel
Revolt World
Class of 2022, LEAD Atlanta
Class of 2022, Regional Leadership Institute
New Bridge Fellowship Program, Atlantik-Brücke (2022)
Fellowship in Washington D.C., Brussels, and Berlin
Pride Mission Fellow, A Wider Bridge (2023)
Mission Trip to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States (2023 - 2024)
Fellowship In Cologne, Germany and Orlando & Miami, Florida
2019 Atlanta Cohort, New Leaders Council
Strange Bedfellows: How Officials & Grindr Made Monkeypox Education “Viral”
Advertising Week New York
Going Viral: How Leaders, Citizens and Grindr Used Communication To Stop MPOX
Creativity Is Inclusive Panel
Revolt World
Class of 2022, LEAD Atlanta
Class of 2022, Regional Leadership Institute
New Bridge Fellowship Program, Atlantik-Brücke (2022)
Fellowship in Washington D.C., Brussels, and Berlin
Pride Mission Fellow, A Wider Bridge (2023)
Mission Trip to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States (2023 - 2024)
Fellowship In Cologne, Germany and Orlando & Miami, Florida
2019 Atlanta Cohort, New Leaders Council
Accolades
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Atlanta Hawks
National Diversity Council
The Advocate Magazine
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend
Atlanta City Council
Human Rights Campaign
Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Peach Atlanta Magazine
Atlanta Hawks
- Forever 404 Award, 2023
National Diversity Council
- Georgia LGBTQ+ Leadership Award, 2022
The Advocate Magazine
- Champions of Pride, 2021
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend
- LGBTQ Advocate Award, 2022
- Activism Award, 2021
Atlanta City Council
- LGBTQ Atlanta "Game Changers" (Proclamation), 2019
Human Rights Campaign
- National Community Events Program of the Year
2023, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016 - National Membership Outreach Leader of the Year, 2018
- National Rookie of the Year, 2015
Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
- Rising Star, 2019
Peach Atlanta Magazine
- Community Hero, 2018
Professional Assessments
Enneagram Type Eight:
The Challenger
"Masters of Their Fate"
Energetic | Powerful Instincts
Strong-Willed | Decisive
ENFJ
Protagonist | Outgoing | Gifted Storyteller | Optimistic | High-Spirited
Gallup CliftonStrengths® Assessment Top Five:
Relator | Adaptability | Communication | Strategic Futuristic
The Challenger
"Masters of Their Fate"
Energetic | Powerful Instincts
Strong-Willed | Decisive
ENFJ
Protagonist | Outgoing | Gifted Storyteller | Optimistic | High-Spirited
Gallup CliftonStrengths® Assessment Top Five:
Relator | Adaptability | Communication | Strategic Futuristic
