In this inspiring conversation of The Good Service Podcast, host Joseph Dunham sits down with brothers and co-founders Michael and Marcus Gilliam of Southside Aviators, a powerful youth-focused aviation initiative that’s transforming dreams into flight paths for the next generation.
Michael's journey began with a dream — to become a professional pilot — but his route was anything but smooth. From financial hurdles to a lack of mentorship, he faced every barrier that holds back so many urban youth from entering aviation. After years of detours, including a pivotal return to flight school in 2013, Michael’s perseverance paid off — today, he flies with a major legacy carrier, earning six figures and building a new legacy for his family.
Marcus, on the other hand, discovered his passion for service and community impact through a different lens — one grounded in policy, grants, and public programming. Now working as a Grants Specialist and Policy Coordinator for Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Marcus manages and oversees over 50 nonprofit and government grantees, fueling programs that uplift underserved communities.
Together, these brothers have fused their passions for aviation, access, and advocacy to launch Southside Aviators — a nonprofit dedicated to exposing inner-city youth to the limitless world of aviation and giving them the tools to take flight in both career and life.
🔊 In this episode, we explore:
- Michael’s long and winding journey from grounded dreams to flying commercial jets
- How Marcus’s work in public policy fuels their nonprofit vision
- The origin story of Southside Aviators and the systemic challenges they aim to dismantle
- Why aviation exposure can transform the trajectory of young lives
- What mentorship, representation, and legacy really mean in underserved communities
- How their mission is creating both pilots and possibilities
🌍 Whether you're an educator, entrepreneur, aviation nerd, or just someone who believes in the power of purpose, this episode will lift your spirit — and maybe even make you want to reach for the clouds.
📍 Learn more about Southside Aviators: https://www.thesouthsideaviator.com
📸 Follow their journey on Instagram: @southsideaviators
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