I encountered a life-changing experience upon having the privilege of visiting Haiti with five Haitian Americans, in 2018 and 2019, totaling 9-weeks. My heart was gripped with such shock and awe, to witness such abject poverty and lack of infrastructure to provide even the most basic human needs — that I asked myself what I could do to help?

As a native of Chicago, Illinois, I grew up on the far Southside, as teenager in Altgeld Gardens, a CHA project community. I was born and raised as the second child of my Mother’s seven children, that she nurtured well as a single parent. Becoming a single-teen-mom and raising two sons, I am no stranger to hardship and struggle (a challenge that I managed and overcame), drawing from my mother’s love, creativity and strength — my greatest S-H-E-R-O. I must say that my trip to Haiti gave a new meaning to the words, (hardship and struggle), that I had never witnessed personally in my lifetime.

Therefore, in memory of my mother, Claudette Cole, I dedicate the vision of Freedom’s Dream Global, to honor her life, that I proudly eulogized at her memorial in 2001 as a story, entitled “The Glory of a Victorious Struggle”.

I retired in 2014 after contributing over 40 years of administrative services for major corporations, including the Chicago Tribune — (Associate Ad Creator), America Online — (Sales Retention Consultant), and Bank of America — (Loss Mitigation / Short Sale Specialist), just to name a few.

I graduated from Jones Commercial High School — (Vocational Business H.S.) in 1973; and later attended Chicago College of Commerce from 1976 to 1978 — (Court Reporting); and Harold Washington Junior College in the ‘80’s — (Cont’d Education / Business Courses), to enhance future job opportunities.

From 1987 to 1997, I pursued entrepreneurial ventures becoming the sole proprietor of Gina’s Data Services Unlimited, a printing broker/desktop publishing company, while in Chicago.

In Chicago, I contributed and was involved in outreach ministry for 17 years from 1984-2001 in several churches and auxiliaries; teaching the youth while creating plays, and performed ministerial services at Kenwood Nursing Home, licensed as an Evangelist in 2000 under the leadership of Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, IL.

In 2001, shortly after relocating to Minnesota, I rededicated my efforts to community service and became the Co-Founder and Associate Director of the St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization (SASSO) — formed as a 501c3 — advocating for Somali refugees in St. Cloud, MN. In 2003, SASSO was selected as one of nine “Movers and Shapers” of Central Minnesota by the St. Cloud Times Newspaper, and also featured in Initiative Foundation’s IQ Magazine Cover Story entitled: “Symbols of Salvation” in 2004.

During my time with SASSO, I was given the opportunity to produce a Black History play that I entitled, “Freedom’s Dream – From Africa to African Americans” which premiered at the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud, MN for two consecutive years (2003-2004).

The creation of the “Freedom’s Dream” play, combined with my own personal life experiences became my inspiration and the catalyst to launch a lifelong vision to create an organization to inspire our youth, and Freedom’s Dream Global, L3C was established on May 1, 2019.

To this day, I find myself continually energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate to give back in a more meaningful way to help, “Empower A New Generation — At Home and Abroad”.

I am also the proud mother of two sons, 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.