“I was labeled “a failure to thrive” due to the circumstances that I was born into. However due to the community, youth programs, activities, mentors, and many financial supporters of such programs, I was given a chance. With this chance I was given hope.

Today I stand as a wife, mother, entrepreneur, professor, overall a positive leader within my community. An opportunity was given and the narrative was reversed. Here I stand with a passion to give that same support to others for the sake of our community.

To build another generation of positive leaders who can continue a culture of “Give Back”. - Aitina Fareed-Cooke (Owner of Get Fokus’d Productions)