Meet our Founder

Dr. ‘Demi Fauziyyah Adebo-Adelaja is a seasoned public health researcher and practitioner with nearly three decades of experience dedicated to addressing health disparities and advancing health equity. Her passion for public health was ignited during her undergraduate years as a peer health educator and further shaped through her impactful work as an HIV counselor and health educator serving underserved communities in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

In 2020, witnessing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on African American communities in Prince George’s County reignited Dr. Adebo-Adelaja’s commitment to advancing health equity. This pivotal moment led to the founding of The Aafiyah Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to addressing health disparities and promoting holistic wellness within underserved populations, emerging from her broader work in health and wellness and a deep commitment to social responsibility. Grounded in the concept of Aafiyah—an Arabic term encompassing comprehensive well-being—her work centers on community empowerment and the cultivation of a lasting legacy of health and wellness.

 

Through her leadership, Dr. Adebo-Adelaja continues to inspire transformative change by bridging public health expertise with community-centered approaches, fostering environments where individuals and families can thrive.

 

Dr. Adebo-Adelaja holds a Doctorate in Management of Public Health Services from the University of Maryland Global Campus, a Master of Public Health in Global Health from Emory University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

 

A longtime resident of Prince George’s County, she lives with her husband and their three sons. She enjoys exploring the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area and engaging in wellness practices that reflect her commitment to a grounded, aligned, and healthy lifestyle.​