Alvin "A.B." Bailey is the founder of Hills4ATL, a community-driven fitness initiative offering free weekly workouts in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. Motivated by a personal experience, Bailey created this program to provide a safe and inclusive space for individuals to engage in physical activity and foster community connections. His efforts have cultivated a growing "fitness family," promoting wellness and unity across Atlanta.
Your mother instilled in you that true success comes from purpose, not just a paycheck. How did her influence shape the paths you choose to follow early on in your career?
AB: I think probably first and foremost, just by her leading by example. I think growing up seeing so many things around us, just out of the goodness of her heart. I think that when you get older, you just kind of find ways to do the same thing and get that same feeling that she probably got from doing so much of that type of work.
The Hills4ATL experience (All rights reserved to owner)
Hills4ATL started as a few friends working out on Wednesdays during the pandemic. Now you’re drawing 150+ people each week. You always knew the program was more valuable, how did you continue to build your vision organically?
AB: Honestly, just keeping the vision the way we started, even when we continued to grow. It was very important to still keep that same bond and family feel that we have had with 4–5 people. I think that the core family values are still there. We still keep our same respect, ideas, everything that we started our program with, just as much as it's growing. I think we've done a good job. Even with new people coming in, they meet people who've been there for years, and they just kind of follow suit.
“I think that coming and seeing these people every day, or 5 days a week is actually a treat for me, and it's something that I look forward to.”
- A.B
Collaboration fuels communities. How did your partnership with Lululemon come about, and how has it helped make your classes more accessible and impactful?
AB: They were doing a lot in the community when I moved here to Atlanta, so I reached out because they had something called the “Shed Series,” where they were already doing weekly workouts. I thought that we were just kind of doing the same thing. At the time, Hills wasn't what it is now; it was just a side thing for me. I reached out to them to see if they would be interested in partnering for our Hills class that we were doing with me and my friends on Wednesday. They entertained the idea, and at first, it started out like a very light sponsorship, just more of like gear and water bottles and different things like that. I think they've seen a value in what we have and vice versa. They're great partners. I think we’re going on year three now, and it's been great to see how the relationship has grown. It's also a recognizable brand that people already have an expectation in their brain if they're going to a Lululemon-powered event. Then they're gonna expect a certain type of quality, a certain type of experience. So I think we've been good at making sure that they feel good about the partnership as well.
Hills4ATL participant (All rights reserved to owner)
Your company grew from one class a week to now five. How do you take care of yourself as a leader knowing that so many people depend on you to show up. How are you showing up for yourself while still prioritizing your connection to the community?
AB: I think first and foremost, I make sure that I enjoy the experience. We've all had jobs that we don't enjoy being at. I absolutely love Hill, and I think that coming and seeing these people every day, or five days a week, is actually a treat for me, and it's something that I look forward to. They're literally like family, so I'm blessed to be able to have a community that I actually do love being a part of, and if I'm not there, we have excellent leaders and coaches to really see it through. They got my back and vice versa.
What role does representation play in helping the next generation believe that their dreams and aspirations are truly possible?
AB: Keeping God first. I connected to my purpose later in life, and I think when I found it, I knew this is exactly where I was supposed to be. I think that just trying to be true to yourself and really looking and pursuing something that you really enjoy— I don't think there's anything wrong with that. You might have to do some other things to get up to that point, but I think that's the ultimate reward in life: finding that purpose in something that you wake up and love, enjoy doing, and feel like you're making an impact. I feel like we're doing that with Hills for sure.
Want to hear more amazing stories like this? Check out our “More of Us” series! If you want to connect with A.B and support the work he is doing, follow him on social @xperiencethedj and support his business Hill4ATL.