Meet Our Team
Our dedicated and diverse team of experienced professionals is committed to working hard to achieve GCHIC's noble mission. Get to know us by reviewing our biographies below! As you do so, please remember that GCHIC also very much needs YOU--your donations, your volunteer work, and your ambassadorship.
Find out how you can get involved with GCHIC!
Bradley E. Heard
Founder and President
Bradley E. Heard is the president and founding board member of Greater Capitol Heights Improvement Corporation (GCHIC). A longtime civil rights attorney and citizen activist, Brad has lived in Prince George’s County since 2007. Brad currently works as the Deputy Legal Director of the Voting Rights Practice Group at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Previously, he was a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Brad frequently writes on smart growth, walkable urbanism, transit-oriented development, and political governance and accountability issues in his blog, Prince George’s Urbanist. He also has significant experience advocating land use and zoning legal issues before the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Prince George’s County Council, the Board of Zoning of Appeals, and various Maryland courts.
Brad has collaborated with numerous groups to put on public presentations and to engage county officials in positive dialogue around sustainable growth and community revitalization issues. He also frequently attends and offers public comments in connection with comprehensive planning efforts and individual development review proceedings.
Brad founded GCHIC in the belief that it embodies and manifests Margaret Mead’s wise counsel: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
A magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Brad received his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut. He is also a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
Lacretia Hill
Vice President
Lacretia Hill is a distinguished Project Manager in the Legal Department at AT&T, where she has demonstrated exemplary leadership and project management skills. With a robust background in public service and community advocacy, Lacretia brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to making a positive impact in both her professional and personal endeavors.
In her role at AT&T, Lacretia also serves as the President of the HACEMOS DMV chapter, an employee resource group dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for Hispanic and Latino employees. Under her leadership for the past three years, the group has achieved significant milestones and contributed greatly to enhancing the organizational culture. Lacretia's dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion has inspired and motivated group members to work collaboratively towards common goals, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
Lacretia's passion for community service is evident in her extensive involvement in local initiatives. She recently joined the Board of the Greater Capitol Heights Improvement Corporation, where she continues to advocate for community development and improvement. Her participation in the Civic Leadership Institute in March 2025 further fueled her commitment to civic engagement and inspired her to take on this new role.
Before her tenure at AT&T, Lacretia gained valuable experience working for Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and at the Department of Justice in the Environment and Natural Resources Division. These roles honed her skills in public relations, policy advocacy, and environmental justice, laying a strong foundation for her subsequent achievements.
Lacretia holds an undergraduate degree in Public Relations from Howard University in Washington, D.C. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, she now resides in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., with her family. Her upbringing and educational background have played a pivotal role in shaping her values and dedication to community service.
Through her various roles and commitments, Lacretia Hill exemplifies exceptional leadership, a profound commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an unwavering dedication to community advocacy. Her professional and personal achievements continue to inspire those around her and contribute significantly to the betterment of her community.
Abraham Diallo
Board Member
Born in Washington, DC and later raised in Prince George's County, Abraham Diallo is a local native with great ambitions and desire to see transformation in Capitol Heights. He is a first-generation Guinean/Senegalese American and the first in his family to enroll and complete a K-12 and university education in the United States.
Inspired by his lived experiences in the County, Abraham earned a bachelor’s degree in urban planning with a minor in real estate development from the University of Maryland in an undergraduate program he developed via the approval of a board of college deans. His unique academic career included studying abroad in London, where he was exposed to exemplary city planning practices and robust transportation systems. Additionally, Abraham’s program included some graduate-level course-work and a 30-page capstone discussing the DC region’s housing plan, which included a case study of the Town of Capitol Heights. These experiences equip Abraham to advocate well for livable, walkable, and transit-oriented development that supports sustainable revitalization and economic development in Prince Goerge’s County’s inner Beltway communities.
Abraham is currently employed as a community planner with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. He previously worked as a community engagement specialist in the Office of Director for the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. In his spare time, Abraham enjoys spending a good time with friends and family, working out and taking trips.
Michaela Teasley
Communications Specialist
Michaela Teasley is a graduate of the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations.
From 2023 to 2025, Michaela interned with ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, supporting the social marketing, media relations, and internal communications teams. During her time at St. Jude, she contributed to the development of social media and communications strategies for a variety of initiatives, including the 2023 and 2024 Diwali campaigns, the 2024 Next Gen Conference, and the 2025 Memphis to Peoria Run.
As a proud HBCU graduate, Michaela is deeply committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and cultural representation in communications. She believes authentic storytelling has the power to build connections, amplify underrepresented voices, and inspire positive change.
Originally from Tyrone, Georgia, Michaela enjoys reading, musical theater, media analysis and production, exploring the outdoors, and hosting game nights with friends.
She is also a devoted cat mom to Raven and OJ and enjoys spending time with her young nephew.