Chicago, IL — For Latefah, purpose is not an abstract idea. It is personal. It is rooted in family, loss, faith, education, motherhood, and the deep belief that children should never be limited by the neighborhood they were born into.
As the Executive Director of Kids Kan Fly, Latefah is building an organization designed to give underserved youth access to cultural exposure, travel experiences, educational enrichment, and a wider view of what life can become.
During a recent interview on the Women with Purpose podcast, Latefah shared the story behind Kids Kan Fly and the heart that fuels her mission. Raised in a large blended family with 14 siblings, Latefah grew up understanding both the power of family and the importance of access. Her own educational journey includes business degrees, a master’s degree, and continued doctoral studies — achievements that made her the first in her family to pursue higher education at that level.
But the seed for Kids Kan Fly came from heartbreak.
Latefah shared that the organization was inspired by the loss of her young nephew, who was shot in Chicago. That tragedy deepened her commitment to reaching children who may be surrounded by violence, limited resources, or environments that do not always show them what is possible beyond their immediate world.
The mission of Kids Kan Fly is simple but profound: show young people more so they can dream bigger.
Latefah believes that exposure changes everything. When children are introduced to new places, cultures, people, and experiences, their sense of what is possible begins to expand. A child who has only seen their immediate neighborhood may not yet understand the many paths available to them. Through cultural trips, school partnerships, family-centered experiences, and eventually exchange opportunities, Kids Kan Fly aims to open that door.
“Access is often the difference,” Latefah shared during the conversation. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that children are not lacking ability — they are often lacking exposure, opportunity, and someone willing to help them see beyond the limits placed around them.
Latefah’s own life reflects the values she now teaches. As a mother of seven children, ranging in age from 13 years old to just a few months, she runs her household with intention, responsibility, and entrepreneurial thinking. She described her family life almost like a business, where household jobs teach accountability, leadership, and ownership.
That same spirit shows up in her family business, Kids Kan, which sells STEAM education kits and gives her children real-life experience in entrepreneurship through vendor opportunities and hands-on learning. For Latefah, empowerment starts early. She teaches her children that their ideas matter, their dreams are valid, and their imagination should not be dismissed — even when one of those dreams is as ambitious as becoming a unicorn.
Kids Kan Fly is currently in its startup phase, with Latefah focusing on school partnerships, business partnerships, community events, word-of-mouth awareness, and capital funding. She has been working to build relationships with school systems, including Houston ISD, while also exploring lunch-and-learn events, local sponsorships, and family-focused cultural trips.
The process has required patience. Latefah described the long partnership process with HISD as one of the most challenging moments so far. After beginning the legal and administrative steps before the school year started, she watched a full year pass without the progress she had hoped for. Still, she sees the process as part of building something legitimate, lasting, and worthy of the children it is meant to serve.
Her message to other women doing purposeful work is direct: do not doubt the assignment.
Latefah believes women are often chosen for the very work that stirs their hearts. The challenge is not always about knowing whether the mission matters. Sometimes the challenge is trusting that you are the person meant to carry it forward.
How to reach Latefah
Watch the Full Interview: https://youtu.be/I4PjHDkp3DY
