Wanda Cooper-Jones never imagined her life would become a symbol of resilience. Since the tragic killing of her son, Ahmaud Arbery, in 2020, a racially motivated hate crime that took place while he was jogging in Georgia, Cooper-Jones has been quietly, powerfully building something greater in his name.
She founded The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation to create safe spaces for Black boys and teens to move freely and to educate them on both physical and mental wellness. For her, this work isn’t just about programs or advocacy — it’s personal, rooted in loss, love, and a mother’s enduring strength.
“Watching Ahmaud Arbery’s legacy live on through this foundation means everything to me,” she shared. “As a mother, nothing prepares you for losing your child. Some days are still heavy, and that grief never really leaves you. But when I see Black boys like my son, along with young people from all backgrounds, running, learning, laughing, and being supported in his name, it truly touches my heart. It reminds me that his life still matters and that his story is still bringing light into the world.”
Working closely with young people has not only driven the foundation’s mission forward, but it’s also played a role in her healing.
“The kids have shaped my healing in ways I never expected,” Cooper-Jones said. “Their joy, their honesty, their questions, and their hope give me strength on the days when it feels hard to keep going. Through them, I still get to see my son’s spirit and his love for life. That is how I turn my grief into purpose, and how I keep turning tragedy into making hope loud.”
At the heart of her mission is the idea of safety — emotional, physical, and cultural. For Cooper-Jones, that means more than just having a space to run.
“Safety, to me, starts with young boys being able to exist without fear, especially Black boys like Ahmaud who deserve to move through the world freely and without worry,” she said. “Physically, it means they can run, walk, play, and just be children without danger. But it is also bigger than that. It is about all of us being able to move through this world without fear, without hesitation, and without feeling like our lives do not matter. Running free is not just about movement, it is about freedom.”
“Emotionally, safety means being able to feel. To be happy, scared, confused, excited, or sad and still be met with patience and love. No one should feel like they have to hide who they are in order to survive. And as a community, safety also means we look out for one another. At the foundation, we work every day to create spaces where people feel seen, protected, and free to breathe.”
Why mental wellness matters just as much as movement
While running is at the foundation’s core, inspired by Ahmaud’s own love for it, Cooper-Jones says it was crucial to focus on the internal wellness of young boys, too.
“Running was something my son loved. It gave him peace. It gave him clarity. It gave him a sense of freedom. But I also learned that you can look strong on the outside and still be hurting deeply on the inside,” she said. “That is why mental and emotional wellness is just as important to us as physical movement.”
“So many young boys are carrying stress, fear, pressure, and emotions they do not always know how to talk about. We are trying to fill that gap by giving them safe spaces to talk, to release, and to heal. This work is about the whole person. When kids are supported mentally and emotionally, they are better equipped to move through the world with confidence and hope.”
This commitment to both inner and outer wellness recently received national recognition through Cooper-Jones’ inclusion in adidas’ Honoring Black Excellence initiative. Through the partnership, she is featured in adidas’ new Community Archives zine, a limited-edition print publication spotlighting culture-makers tied to the brand’s Purpose division.
“Working with Adidas has truly been a blessing,” she said. “Their support has helped us reach more young people and bring more visibility to the work we are doing. It means so much to know that our mission is being recognized and valued on a larger stage.”
“Some of the most meaningful moments for me have been watching young people walk into new rooms with confidence, realizing that their lives, their stories, and their dreams matter. Seeing them feel seen and celebrated is something I will never take for granted. This partnership has helped us make hope louder in ways I never imagined.”
What comes next for the foundation, and how the community can still show support
The six-page spread gave Cooper-Jones space to share both public and private aspects of her journey, from national moments of grief to the everyday process of healing.
“What felt most important to share was the truth of the journey,” she said. “The heartbreak, the loss, and the pain, but also the faith, the love, and the community that carried me when I felt like I could not go on. I wanted people to see that this foundation was built in the middle of tragedy, but it continues to grow because of hope.”
“It was also important to share the quiet moments. The small wins. The conversations with kids. The healing that is still happening day by day. This feature gave me space to reflect on not just what I lost as a mother, but what we are building together as a community by making hope louder.”
Looking ahead, Cooper-Jones is focused on expanding the foundation’s reach, from more youth programming to increased access to mental health support. She said this past Giving Tuesday served as a powerful reminder of how much the community can make a difference.
“The community has always been the heart of this work,” she said. “People showed up for us on Giving Tuesday, and that support continues to carry us forward. Every act of support, big or small, helps us keep moving forward together. This foundation exists because of love, and that love comes from all of us.”
“We took tragedy and learned how to make hope loud.”