Lifting As We Climb Foundationg, Inc.

President and Co-Founder - Siraaj M. Hasan

Siraaj Hasan, born in Middletown, OH, is the President and Co-Founder of the Lifting as We Climb Foundation (LAWCF). As a 2000 graduate of Hampton University, Hasan received a B.S. in Computer Science. His Graduate Coursework includes, earning a Certificate in Business Strategy from the Round Table Group, Inc., a management training program which included an intensive collaborated MBA curriculum from the Columbia Business School, Dartmouth's Tuck School, Harvard Business School, MIT's Sloan School, Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management, the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, and the University of Michigan Business School. Hasan is currently an Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, a management technology-consulting firm in Washington, D.C. His client list includes support and analysis for the Intelligence Community, which includes, but not limited to the Pentagon, the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, the CIA, the National Reconnaissance Office, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Hasan is an active member in his community, also serves a Chair of the Booz Allen Hamilton Virginia Special Olympics Committee.

Vice President and Co-Founder - Curtis Blackwell II

Curtis Blackwell of Detroit, Michigan, serves as Vice President & Co-Founder of the LAWCF. Mr. Blackwell is a 1996 graduate from M.L. King High School in Detroit, MI, where he lettered in track, basketball, and football. After graduating from MLK, he received a full football scholarship to attend Hampton University (HU) where he earned his B.S. is Sports Management in 2000. Upon graduating from HU, Blackwell was selected to receive the first Minority Sports Administration Internship & Scholarship from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The AFCA scholarship also funded his Master's Degree, which he earned from Baylor University in Sports Administration in 2002. Mr. Blackwell was then one of twelve Graduate Students selected for the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Minority Internship Program. While working for the NCAA, Mr. Blackwell held a Chair with the NCAA's Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee.

Mr. Blackwell, current and Entrepreneur in Detroit, Mi, co-owns the franchise restaurant Alabama Style Chicken & Fish. He is also the Assistant Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator of Mackenzie High School in Detroit, MI.

Executive Director - Michael L. Powell

Mike Powell, Executive Director, has been a background in career counseling and mentoring. He received his Master's Degree in Business Administration Management from Southeastern University in Washington, D.C. and his Bachelor's Degree from Hampton University in Psychology. Mr. Powell has been a Career Counselor for the U.S. Department of State. He's also been a mentor for the Newport News Boys & Girls Club. In addition to that, Powell has worked as a tutor for Rose Valley Elementary School in Ft. Washington, MD and as tutor for Powell & Reese Management Consultants, Inc. Mr. Powell currently works as a Risk Analyst for the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC is pursuing his Doctorate in Strategic Leadership at Regent University.

Executive Director - Samir O. Cummings, Esq.

Samir Cummings is a born Washingtonian and Alumni of Hampton University earning a B.S. degree in Business Management. As a long-term advocate of youth development, he serves as Executive Director of LAWCF. Mr. Cummings has a Juris Doctorate from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law. Currently working as a corporate counsel for Quadant Inc., Mr. Cummings controls all contractual agreements, conflict resolutions, and legal issues within Quadrant, Inc.

Special Events Director - Caesar Nettles III

Caesar Nettles, born in Fayetteville, N.C., earned his B.A. degree in Political Science from Hampton University in 1999. Mr. Nettles is currently working in Washington, D.C. as a Senior Policy Analyst/Senior Management Consultant for Scientific Applications International Corporation (SAIC). As one of the youngest program managers in this Fortune 500 business, Mr. Nettles leads a team of experts in the Intelligence Community on Continuity of Operation/Continuity of Government Tasks. Mr. Nettles client list includes the White House, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, and a host of other Departments and Agencies.

Executive Director - William Dunn

Grew up between Virginia and New York City, has been associated with LAWCF since the organization begin. Mr. Dunn is a former boxer and basketball standout, he received a full scholarship to Longwood University where he earned his B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation. After a brief pro basketball career, Mr. Dunn settled in the Washington DC area where he began working in the nonprofit sector. Mr.Dunn has an extensive background in working with youth and adults. He is a former Juvenile Probation Counselor, he serves as a Board Member for White Oak Youth Sports Association and he serves the State Liason for Operation Military Kids, which is a program that serves children of deployed servicemen and women. He presently works as a Center Director in Falls Church, VA.

Mr. Dunn, an Iraqi Veteran, also holds a M.S. in Nonprofit Managment and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management from University of Maryland, he is the founder of Project We Care/Adopt A Soldier program and he is committed to serving and helping his community.

4/12/08 - Nike Sparq Team Challenge

How Do You Rate? NIKE and SPARQ are conducting a team competition across the Nation for High School Football teams to find out who really has the best athletes!