Historical Background
A Vision to Become Part of the Solution :
My Heart Beats Africa Foundation Inc. was founded by Curtis Brooks with a vision rooted in compassion, partnership and a determination to help create meaningful change in communities across Africa.
The Foundation began with a simple belief: when we see hunger, children without educational opportunities, families without access to clean water and communities struggling with limited resources, we should not simply recognize the problems—we should work together to become part of the solution.
That belief became the foundation of My Heart Beats Africa.
Establishing Our Presence in Africa
As the vision developed, the Foundation began building an operational presence in Jos, Nigeria.Jessica Brooks, Co-Founder, played an important role in helping establish the Foundation’s operations in Nigeria, assisting with the development of the infrastructure needed to create a working presence for the organization.
Nigeria became an important foundation for our African operations and helped shape our understanding that lasting change requires more than charitable giving. It requires relationships, local leadership, accountability and people who understand the communities being served.
Expanding Our Mission
As My Heart Beats Africa continued to develop, our mission expanded around four major areas of impact:Food & Nutrition • Clean Water • Education • Agriculture
These priorities reflect our belief that strong communities require interconnected solutions.
A child needs food to learn. A family needs clean water to remain healthy. Education creates opportunity. Agriculture can provide food, livelihoods and greater self-sufficiency.
Our long-term objective is therefore not simply to provide temporary assistance, but to help communities build pathways toward stronger and more sustainable futures.
Partnership Became Part of Our Identity
One of the most important developments in our history has been our decision to embrace partnership as a central part of our model.Instead of believing that My Heart Beats Africa must accomplish everything alone, we began developing relationships with NGOs and community organizations working directly within African communities.
Our growing relationships have connected us with organizations and leaders across countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Malawi.
These relationships have helped shape a larger vision:
African organizations and international supporters working together, sharing resources, knowledge and opportunities to create greater collective impact.
Our goal is to strengthen this network while respecting the experience, leadership and identity of each partner organization.Building Leadership for the Future
As the Foundation grew, so did its leadership structure.Curtis Brooks continues to serve as Founder, providing the vision and strategic direction for the organization.
Jessica Brooks serves as Co-Founder, reflecting the important role she has played in helping establish and develop the Foundation.
Celina Simi Yohanna serves as Executive Director, helping translate the Foundation’s vision into operations, partnerships and programs on the ground.
Together, the leadership team is working toward building an organization that can grow beyond any single individual and ultimately serve communities for generations.
A New Approach to Fundraising
In 2026, My Heart Beats Africa began developing a broader fundraising strategy designed to bring together individuals, businesses, communities and the entertainment industry.This led to the development of the BELIEVE Fundraiser Campaign.
Launching October 1, 2026, BELIEVE brings together merchandise, direct giving, corporate support, community participation and music to help generate resources for the Foundation’s humanitarian mission.
The Foundation has also begun developing corporate relationships, including support received from Butterball for the BELIEVE fundraising effort.
Music With a Mission
Our story has also expanded into music.Through a collaboration between My Heart Beats Africa Foundation Inc. and Worldwide Empire Music, we are exploring how entertainment can become another platform for humanitarian impact.
Recording artist Jonathan Malone’s charity single, “My Heart Beats Africa,” is being released as part of this effort.
The project combines physical music sales, digital distribution and promotion with a larger purpose: introducing more people to the mission of My Heart Beats Africa and creating another avenue through which supporters can participate in helping communities.
For us, music can become a bridge connecting culture, community, generosity and change.
Where We Are Today
My Heart Beats Africa Foundation Inc. is still building its history.We do not believe our story should be measured simply by how large the organization becomes. We want it measured by the strength of our partnerships, the trust we build, the resources we responsibly steward and, most importantly, the lives and communities positively affected by our work.
Our current chapter is about building a strong foundation—strengthening governance, developing sustainable fundraising, expanding responsible partnerships, documenting our work and creating programs whose impact can be measured.
Our ambition is long-term.
We envision My Heart Beats Africa becoming a respected platform through which nonprofits, businesses, donors, artists, community leaders and people across the African diaspora can work alongside African communities and organizations toward common goals.
Our Legacy Vision
Building partnerships. Strengthening communities. Creating a legacy of opportunity across Africa for generations to come.Our history is still being written.
From establishing our presence in Nigeria, to developing partnerships across Africa, to launching BELIEVE and bringing music into our fundraising strategy, each chapter represents another step toward the organization we are working to build.
We believe the strongest chapter of My Heart Beats Africa Foundation Inc. is still ahead.
