Hidden Gems: Meet Diamond Cooke of Lori’s Daughter Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diamond Cooke.

Hi Diamond, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey didn’t start with a master plan, it started with responsibility, loss, and a deep sense of purpose. I became a mother early, navigated adulthood fast, and learned quickly that survival alone wasn’t enough; I wanted impact. After losing my mother, Lori, I founded Lori’s Daughter Inc. in her honor, turning grief into service and legacy into action. What began as helping a few families grew into a full community mission centered on women, mothers, and underserved families.

Professionally, I’ve worked across public service, leadership, and community advocacy, which sharpened my understanding of system; how they work, how they fail, and who gets left behind when they do. I’ve balanced raising children, managing high-pressure roles, pursuing graduate education, and building a nonprofit from the ground up. None of it was linear. All of it was intentional.

Today, I lead with clarity and conviction. I build programs that meet people where they are, partner with organizations that believe in collaboration over competition, and stay rooted in the belief that legacy is built in real time through consistency, integrity, and showing up even when it’s hard. I’m still becoming, but I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Short answer? No. Smooth roads don’t build people like me.

The biggest challenges have been balancing real life with real responsibility i.e. raising children, Jeriyah and Truth, who also was blessed with special powers such as autism. Managing demanding leadership roles, navigating grief, and still showing up for my community when I was exhausted myself. I’ve faced financial strain, burnout, and moments where the weight of expectation, both personal and professional, felt overwhelming. Building something meaningful without a safety net will test you in ways no textbook prepares you for.

I’ve also had to navigate systems that weren’t designed with women, mothers, or community-centered leaders in mind. I learned quickly that passion alone isn’t enough; you need strategy, boundaries, and resilience. There were times I had to pause, recalibrate, and rebuild while people assumed I was “falling off.”

But every obstacle sharpened my leadership. The delays taught me patience. The setbacks taught me discernment. And the hard seasons forced me to lead with intention instead of impulse. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been honest, and it’s made the work stronger.

Hard? Absolutely. Worth it? Every single time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lori’s Daughter Inc.?
Lori’s Daughter Inc. is a community-driven nonprofit rooted in legacy, service, and accountability that has served communities since 2011. Founded in honor of my mother, Lori, the organization was originally created to support women and mothers navigating loss, instability, and systemic barriers, and has intentionally expanded over the years to serve men, fathers, caregivers, youth, and entire family networks because healing and progress require collective support. We provide wraparound, people-centered services that address both immediate needs and long-term empowerment, including health advocacy, mental health awareness, family wellness programming, youth and parent engagement, and community care initiatives. Our work is informed by my professional background in social work, mental health systems, and small business consulting, allowing us to combine empathy with strategy and compassion with operational structure. We are particularly known for our HIV awareness and “Know Your Status” campaigns, mother-daughter leadership cohorts, family-centered wellness events, and strong cross-sector collaborations with public agencies, nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and small businesses that focus on closing gaps rather than duplicating services. What sets Lori’s Daughter Inc. apart is that our programs are built from lived experience and deep systems knowledge, not theory, and our brand is grounded in trust, consistency, and accountability. I am most proud that since 2011, we have grown with intention without compromising our values, choosing integrity over visibility and collaboration over competition. I want readers to know that Lori’s Daughter Inc. is not a moment or a trend, but a living legacy and a trusted community partner committed to strengthening families, supporting mental and emotional wellness, and creating sustainable pathways to empowerment across generations.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
This work has never been a solo effort. Tierra Smith of the True Amor Foundation played a key role in pushing me to restart and expand Lori’s Daughter Inc., consistently seeing a bigger vision for me and the organization before I could see it myself. Cierra Caleb of the Atlanta Police Department, Homeland Security Unit, has been a steadfast supporter and strategic partner, assisting with social media marketing, guiding my rebrand, and strengthening our public presence. I am also grateful to Dollar Tree, Inc., an early and consistent partner that supported our community initiatives and helped us provide essential resources to families in need, and to Aniah Denise, founder of Celebs Give Back, for her collaborative leadership and partnership. I also want to recognize Jazmine Fortson, who connected me to this magazine and has supported me quietly and consistently without ever seeking recognition; when I shared everything with her, her only response was, “Tell the world about Lori’s Daughter Inc.” Above all, the families and communities we serve deserve recognition for trusting us with their stories, and alongside mentors, partners, and my family, they are the reason Lori’s Daughter Inc. continues to grow with purpose and impact.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Loridaughterinc
• Facebook: Loridaughterinc
• Twitter: Loridaughterinc
• Other: TikTok: Loridaughterinc