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Lateefah Simon grew up in the Fillmore district of San Francisco. This is comparable to Harlem in New York. Her district is impoverished and many there are addicted to crack cocaine. At 17, she began working at a non-profit called the Center for Young Women's Development. At 19, she was so helpful to young women in the neighborhood that she was named the executive director! Since then, the Center grew into a $425,000-a year operation.
Political leaders praise Simon to the skies. The district attorney, Kamala Harris, says:
"She's about courage. She's selfless in the way she gives. She is visionary."
When she won a "Genius" grant for $500,000 she could not believe it. When she received the first of 5 annual checks, she thought
"they're going to find out who I really am and take back the first check."
All she wants to do is help people. And she does it daily. Evidently there is at least one person in America - Lateefah Simon - who is not infused with the religion of competition. Simon is the cooperative sort. She wants to help people extract themselves from poverty and live happy, productive lives.
Lateefah Simon is a "genius" of the cooperative, helpful kind. Let's grow more women and men like her.
