Hampton Roads Children of the Sun Athletic / Education Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia dedicated to helping underserved youths excel in life.

The Annual Hampton Roads Youth Leadership Conference addresses and provides possible solutions to issues faced by young people in the Hampton Roads area, including but not limited to, drug use, abuse, violence, and education and careers.

The members:

• prepare quarterly newsletters on youth concerns as a means of communicating with peers.
• plan and implement leadership training and business ventures as a means of developing skills,which will be useful to youth as adults.
• plan an annual leadership conference which allows young people to achieve their full potential and develop a partnership to empower their peers with education and careers.
• work as an individual organization with a regional collaborative partnership initiative for the total development of youth -promoting, empowering, supporting, and profiling the various youth organizations that are active in youth leadership initiatives.

The Annual Hampton Roads Youth Leadership Conference serves as a venue that addresses and provides possible solutions to daily global issues faced by young people.

This youth-planned event is attended by more than 600 teens and their advisers or parents. Participants are involved in thought-provoking issues and interest-based sessions, interactive education, leadership and service experiences, and engaging motivational presentations.

By attending the conference participants also develop a positive social network as they partner with local youth organizations conducting career fairs, discussion groups and upcoming social events that inspire young people to be empowered to express their voice, give back to the community, and excel in education and careers.

With eleven years of valuable community service and dedication, we are inspired to reach above the horizons to globalize our vision.

Abdul Aswad was born and raised in Goldsboro, NC. He is a father of two, one boy (Omar) and one girl (Annette). He is also the community father, who some call Papa, Bubba or Coach Aswad, for a host of youth. He graduate from Booker T. Washington High School and went on to graduate from Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University with a B.A. in Social Science and Masters in Urban Affairs/Criminal Justice. He is a retired veteran from the U. S. Air Force and Norfolk Southern Railroad. Presently, he is the Soccer Coach for Lake Taylor Middle School.

Abdul Aswad is the Director and Co-founder of Children of the Sun Athletic/Education Foundation and the Coordinator of the Hampton Roads Youth Leadership Coalition, which hosts an Annual Hampton Roads Youth Leadership Conferences every year for the past 14 years. These conferences have attracted numerous participants as far as North Carolina with attendance reaching over 600 youth and adults. He has won numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to community such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, Crime Prevention Award, numerous Awards of Excellence and Outstanding Contributions.

He says:

I am a father, grandfather, friend, mentor and coach. I have been coaching and mentoring in Norfolk Public Schools for 18 years. Presently, 2011, I am coaching soccer and mentoring students at Coleman Place Elementary School and Lake Taylor Middle School. I have coached soccer at three middle schools - Lafayette Winona, Rosemont and Lake Taylor.

Special thanks to: Children of the Sun/Hampton Roads Youth Leadership Coalition Norfolk Public Schools, City of Norfolk, Americas Promise Alliance, State Farm Insurance, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Sheriff Robert McCabe, Mosque (Masjid), Senator Yvonne Miller, Honorable Congressman Bobby Scott, Honorable Jerrauld Jones and many others who take the time to help our youth to become better and be productive.

In order for our children to learn, we must first educate ourselves, lead by example, collaborate, develop partnership and work together as a “TEAM”.