He is a director of the Hope Street Group, a non-partisan policy organization of business professionals devoted to Opportunity Economics and a member of the Pacific Council on World Affairs. 

He is also active as a community volunteer.  He has taught creative writing to students in the public schools in East Los Angeles through a volunteer program at PEN West.  He has been a volunteer at Union Station (a homeless shelter in Pasadena), and been active in the Writers Guild and other community organizations.  He is a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia Law School.  Mr. Hilsman is married to the painter Nancy Kay Turner, has one child and lives in Pasadena. 

Hoyt grew up in Washington, DC, where his father was an Assistant Secretary of State and advisor to JFK.  He has been active in politics ever since, and has worked with various national figures, including President Bill Clinton. He has been an advisor to several Congressional campaigns in California, was a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.