Our Director

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”.