The Live Happii Project Team
The Live Happii Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of BIPOC youth from underserved communities of Chicago. Our primary focus is to guide these young individuals on a transformative journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
Live Happii Retreats is cofounded by Tori Franklin and Colin Diment.
Tori Franklin
CO-FOUNDER, CEO
Tori is a professional track and field athlete. She is a 2-time Olympian, 3-time American record holder, and World Championship medalist.
Tori is also a motivational speaker, and published author of her self-help memoir, You Anthem.
Tori is also a Master Reiki practitioner, holds her MBA, and is currently pursuing additional certifications in tantra, yoga, and therapeutic dance. She currently resides in Athens, Greece.
Colin Diment
CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT
Colin Diment is a world-class healer and movement specialist. He has worked with hundreds of Olympians and professional athletes from the NBA, NFL, MLB, Crossfit, USA Track and Field, and USA Rugby.
Colin holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Mississippi State University and is a Registered Yoga Teacher from the Govardhan EcoVillage in Maharashtra, India.
Parul Shah
Parul is the former associate director at Boston Consulting group, former Human Resources director at Amazon, and a certified yoga teacher in our Happii Schools yoga program.
Cheryl Reels
FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR
Cheryl Reels has worked at Wells Fargo for 10+ years. In that time she has filled various roles, including as a Business Execution Associate (Enterprise Analytics and Data Science), Senior Business Execution Administrator, Senior Payroll Director, and Human Relations Specialist.
In addition to her role as a valued Board Member, Cheryl is the primary Fundraising Coordinator for Live Happii Retreats. She currently resides in Columbia, SC.
Tonya Franklin
Tonya Franklin has 30 years of experience in the Chicago Public School System. She mentors and trains educators on how to best communicate and teach their material. Tonya also continues to instruct our future leaders.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to help young people from underserved communities deepen their connection to themselves. Through travel, we expose them to a variety of cultures that ultimately reveal our interconnectedness. Inner-city youth will experience the beauty of nature, building an appreciation for the Earth and the importance of sustainability. We will show them holistic self-care practices, teaching them to create and maintain their own expression of self-love. Through our events and retreats, we aim to grow future leaders. By guiding young leaders to make transformational changes within themselves, we empower them to make transformational changes within their communities.