Biography

Arnold Hayes was born and raised in the town of Calhoun, Alabama, located in Lowndes County -- a place previously  referred to as “Bloody Lowndes” because of the overt racism and violence against African Americans to maintain segregation.  In spite of this, he was raised in a relatively safe environment on his grandparents’ farm, until going outside of his bubble.

As a child, a defining moment in his young life occurred in his social environment after the Selma to Montgomery March, when SNCC workers stayed in the county to assist in defending, mobilizing and registering Black voters.  Arnold Hayes’ passion for social justice intensified while attending mass meetings, receiving youth training, and witnessing the first county African American candidates, since reconstruction, risk their lives to run for office.

He has over 30 years of management, engineering, manufacturing, robotic programing experience at Ford Motor Company and other fortune 500 companies in strong union environments.  After retiring he taught 7th grade mathematics in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. 

Arnold Hayes graduated from the historic Calhoun High School, founded in 1892.  Booker T. Washington, assisted in the founding of this school and served as a trustee until his death.  He holds degrees from Tuskegee University, Belmont University, and Vanderbilt University, in mechanical engineering, computer science, and theological studies respectfully.

Arnold Hayes is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) faith leader who is involved in the community.  He was one of the core advocates to push for Nashville’s Community Oversight Board, and is a past Chair.  Arnold Hayes is a fully paid life member of the NAACP, and has devoted much of his life and professional career to speaking for those that often have no voice.  For this reason, he strives to be a “drum major for justice.”

Together, he and his wife Robin have five adult children, a son-in-law, and a granddaughter.

Arnold Hayes retired early from Ford Motor Company, and was the first African American management employee in the then forty-five-year history of Ford’s Nashville plant to serve on senior management’s Plant Operating Committee.  This committee, was responsible for all aspects of plant operations, including accountability for meeting the division and company goals and objectives.  While there, he worked closely with the United Auto Workers to establish work teams across the plant. During this assignment he witnessed the power and value of decisions being made by cross-functional workgroups, mostly at the lower levels of an organization, rather than typical top-down management. Arnold Hayes was a mentor, role model, and an advocate for workplace justice.  After leaving Ford, in an effort to better reach youth, he also taught 7th grade mathematics in Metro Nashville Public Schools. 

As a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) he now serves as the Regional Moderator for the State of Tennessee.  Arnold Hayes has served the church at the local, state and national level on numerous boards and in various leadership capacities, while focusing on service, outreach and justice issues.  He completed over 80 hours of Crossroads Anti-racism Training, which sharpened his understanding of the negative effects of systemic racism on society.

Arnold Hayes’ local congregation has been Alameda Christian Church, Nashville, TN since 1984, where he currently serves as an elder.  In the past, he has served in various leadership capacities.  Arnold Hayes and his late wife of 35 years, Vivian Reed Hayes, started and initially funded the Alameda College Scholarship in 2001, and in 2010 they started the Mobile Food Pantry Ministry.  Both ministries continue until this day.

Some of his awards and recognitions are as follows:

  • 2008 The National Convocation of the Christian Church Boomer Award

  • 2018 Tennessee NAACP Charles L. White, Jr. Leadership Award

  • 2019 Nashville NAACP 100 Renaissance Ella Baker Award. 

  • 2020 The Christian Church in Tennessee Disciples Merit Award

  • 2022 Tennessee NAACP Distinguished Service Award in 2022

  • 2022 Tennessee State Senate Proclamation for Community and Christian Service 

  • 2022 NAACP Certificate of Silver Life Membership

Community and Civic Related Involvement

  • Former Nashville Community Oversight Board Member and Chair

  • Community Oversight Now Core Team Member

  • 2018 Amendment One (Community Oversight Board) Campaign Treasurer 

  • Completed the five-day James Lawson Institute.

  • Current member of the Tennessee and Nashville NAACP Executive Committee

  • Former Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) Subcommittee and Nominating Committee Chairperson

  • Completed 3-day Gamaliel Organizing Training

Christian Church Disciples of Christ Involvement

  • State of Tennessee Regional Moderator

  • Former member of the General Nominating Committee of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of the United States and Canada

  • Former Board Member of Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt University

  • Former Board of Directors of Greenwood Cemetery in Nashville, TN 

  • Former Board Member of the National Convocation, Including Serving as the President of The Disciples Men.

  • Former Christian Church in Tennessee Executive Committee – Planned The 2016 Regional “State” Assembly

  • Hosted an Injustice Anywhere Nashville event in Aug 2016 (COB oversight suggested)  

  • Local Transportation Chairperson for the 2011 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) hosted in Nashville, TN

  • Alameda Christian Church, Elder.  Former Co-chairperson Mobile Food Pantry, Webmaster, Board Member, Teacher, Board Moderator and Trustee.

  • Completed 80 hours of Crossroads Anti-racism training.