Dream Initiative started with a simple idea about continuing education during the summer for her daughter, Jade who was a rising first grader. With Jade being the only child, Taquoia invited five of her friends to join in on the learning and fun that would become the first Dream Initiative Summer Program in 2019. Since that first summer, she expanded her program to include families with rising first through third grade scholars all over Durham County.

Taquoia has a passion for helping others, and has devoted her free time in volunteerism, training, and creating opportunities to advocate for students and families in the community. Her experience as Vice President, and now President at the W.G. Pearson Elementary School PTA has earned her a Bright Stars Award from Durham County of PTA in 2019, and she has also completed the Parent & Family Advocacy and Support Training (PFAST) from the Durham Cooperative Extension. She participates in the Speaker’s Bureau, and is a Board Member for the Book Harvest non profit organization.

For the past 7 years, Taquoia has worked for Fidelity Investments where she spends most of her time coaching and training associates. In addition to her daily responsibilities, she volunteers with the Fidelity Cares program that allows her to teach financial literacy lessons to students in Durham and Wake Counties, and partners with different organizations by facilitating workshops that gives teachers the tools to teach financial literacy in the classroom.

Taquoia has a goal to make sure that all children have a strong foundation in education, and will succeed in their classrooms by going through one of her programs. Her love for making sure that her daughter has the tools needed to be successful, has blossomed to a genuine love to advocate for all children.

Taquoia Street
Founder/Executive Director
“Igniting the dreams of children, and turning it into reality.”