We’re looking forward to introducing you to Domonique Cooper. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Domonique , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One thing that I believe is often misunderstood about Atlanta CASA is that our work is simply about “volunteering with children.” While advocacy is at the heart of what we do, it goes much deeper than spending time with a child. Our volunteers are trained advocates who stand in courtrooms, meet with families, and collaborate with professionals to ensure that every child in foster care has a consistent voice and someone truly in their corner.
Another misconception is that our mission is charity-driven rather than impact-driven. Atlanta CASA is not just about kindness it’s about accountability, justice, and empowerment. We are equipping everyday people to help change the trajectory of a child’s life, and that takes skill, training, and commitment. The business of advocacy is one of influence and outcomes. Our goal is not only to support children in the moment but also to strengthen the systems around them for lasting change.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Domonique Cooper and I have the privilege of serving as the CEO of Atlanta CASA, an organization dedicated to ensuring that children in foster care have a consistent and trusted voice advocating for their best interests. With a background in education, nonprofit leadership, and community service, I am passionate about creating spaces where children and families feel seen, heard, and supported.
Atlanta CASA is unique because we stand at the intersection of justice, advocacy, and compassion. Our volunteers are everyday people who undergo extensive training to become advocates who speak up in courtrooms, classrooms, and communities for children navigating the foster care system. What makes our work powerful is that we are not only impacting a child’s today, we are shaping their tomorrow by pushing for systemic change and stronger community support.
Right now we are focused on expanding our impact through new initiatives that bring more volunteers into the movement, elevate youth voices, and build stronger partnerships across Atlanta. Our story is one of resilience, hope, and transformation, and I am honored to lead an organization that is lighting the path forward for children who deserve nothing less than our very best.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What often breaks the bonds between people is a lack of trust and consistency. For children in foster care, these breaks can be especially painful because they are often the result of instability, neglect, or broken promises. When a child cannot rely on the adults around them, it creates barriers that make it difficult to feel safe or valued.
What restores those bonds is genuine care, honesty, and presence. At Atlanta CASA, our advocates show up consistently for children, building trust by keeping their word, listening to their voices, and standing up for their needs in court and in the community. The act of showing up, time after time, restores hope and begins to heal those broken bonds. Relationships are repaired when children see that they are not forgotten, that someone is in their corner, and that their story matters.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be “You are enough, exactly as you are.” For so long, I pushed myself to meet every expectation and to prove my worth through achievement. What I have learned as a leader is that true strength comes not from perfection but from authenticity, resilience, and compassion.
That message is also at the heart of what we do at Atlanta CASA. Children in foster care often wrestle with feelings of being unseen, unheard, or not enough. My journey has taught me that the greatest gift we can give young people is the reassurance that their voice matters, their story matters, and they are worthy of love and opportunity. If I could have embraced that truth earlier, I would have carried it with more confidence. Today, I work to make sure the children we serve grow up knowing it without question.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is the commitment to operational excellence and integrity in everything we do. At Atlanta CASA, culture is not just about how we advocate for children, it is also about how we treat one another, how we honor relationships, and how we create systems that support both our volunteers and our staff in doing their best work.
We are intentional about building a culture where accountability, transparency, and respect are non-negotiable. Advocacy for children in foster care requires trust, consistency, and excellence. That means every court report, every training, every conversation with a volunteer or partner must reflect the highest standard of quality. I believe culture is shaped as much by the daily actions behind the scenes as it is by the visible outcomes, so we work diligently to ensure that our internal operations match the excellence we expect in the courtroom and in the community.
Protecting this culture matters because children and families deserve an organization that leads with both heart and discipline. It is about creating an environment where collaboration thrives, relationships are valued, and excellence is the expectation, not the exception. That is the cultural value I guard closely because it ensures that Atlanta CASA is not only effective in advocacy but also strong, resilient, and sustainable for generations to come.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I could give everything my best even if no one ever praised me for it, because my commitment is rooted in mission and purpose. At Atlanta CASA, I remind my staff often that we do not do this work for recognition, we do it because children’s lives and futures are at stake. Our mission keeps us grounded and focused. Every hearing we attend, every report we prepare, every advocate we train is an opportunity to change the trajectory of a child’s life.
I always share with my team that our purpose is bigger than us. Praise may come and go, but the impact of a stable and consistent advocate in a child’s life is lasting. Being mission focused means showing up with excellence, even when no one is clapping, because the children we serve may never know all that is happening behind the scenes on their behalf. What matters most is that their voice is heard, their needs are met, and their future is brighter. That is what keeps me giving my best each and every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://atlantacasa.org
- Instagram: atlcasa
- Linkedin: Atlanta CASA, Inc.
- Facebook: Atlanta CASA
Image Credits
Justin Kase
Kashaun Cooper
