wHO ARE QUORI’S KIDS?
Our Mission
Quori’s Kids empowers youth by bridging gaps left by traditional education through mentorship, creative expression, and practical skills—building resilience, confidence, and community connections.
Our Vision
A future where youth & young adults are empowered to bridge the gaps for themselves & their communities—embracing their unique paths, realizing their fullest potential beyond traditional norms, redefining success on their own terms.
Our Founders Why
Roots in Community & Curiosity
Growing up in marching band, church, and surrounded by a caring community, I was fortunate to experience the richness of shared purpose and belonging. My childhood was full of opportunities to explore—whether it was taekwondo, ballet, drumming, fashion design, or baking, I was encouraged to try everything. The creative freedom I enjoyed became the foundation for a lifelong passion for learning and self-discovery.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
What truly shaped me was not just academics, but the powerful lessons learned from curiosity, hands-on experiences, and a willingness to grow from every adventure. Social, practical, and soft skills—along with a deep commitment to service—prepared me to navigate the transition into adulthood more than any textbook could. My community didn’t just raise me; it taught me the value of adaptability and the importance of seeing potential in every opportunity.
Answering the Call to Give Back
As I matured, I stayed deeply involved with youth, mentoring those who followed in my footsteps. I began filling the gaps left by traditional education: helping young people open their first bank accounts, guiding them through applying to trades and colleges, and making sure they had room to hold onto their passions & healthy outlets even as their worlds grew larger. I found purpose in teaching life skills, supporting essentials, and encouraging every young person to nurture their curiosity and inner child.
Wealth in Community
Along the way, I realized something transformative: true wealth is investing in community. My greatest achievement has been building a network—a family—of Quori’s Kids who themselves are now bridging the gaps for others. This is the kind of wealth I believe in: working together to ensure every young person has the support, resources, and encouragement to succeed and to give back. Quori’s Kids is founded on this belief, because there is wealth in community, and true wealth means bridging the gap for all.
the Gaps to bridge.
Globally, about three-quarters of youth aged 15–24 are off-track to acquire necessary skills for employment and independence, with deeper shortages in low-income communities.
Nearly 72% of graduating students report feeling only moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared for life after high school.
77% of students believe they'd be more engaged if they better understood their strengths and career options.
values
Empowerment: Cultivating confidence and self-determination so youth can take charge of their own paths.
Wonder: Encouraging curiosity, learning, and openness to new ideas and experiences.
Community: Building meaningful connections and a sense of belonging among youth, families, and partners.
Creativity: Using innovative and artistic approaches to inspire self-expression and problem-solving.
Resilience: Fostering strength and adaptability to overcome challenges and thrive in changing circumstances.
Stewardship: Taking responsibility to care for and positively impact people and the community.
Character: Upholding strong moral principles, honesty, and integrity in all actions.
Service: Actively supporting, uplifting, and contributing to the well-being of others.
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Founder
Quori D. is the founder and director of Quori’s Kids. Since 2015, Quori has worked closely with young people facing the challenges of transitioning from high school to adulthood, creating programs born from their shared experiences. Quori’s Kids takes its name from the special group of youth who have thrived as leaders and change-makers under her guidance.
With roots in military service, band instruction, and church leadership, her approach blends patience, accountability, collaboration, and empowerment. She believes deeply that there is wealth in community, and Quori’s Kids is built on partnerships with proud supporters like Smoothie King, Middleton High School, the Bentley Duvall Leadership Academy, and Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Quori’s personal philosophy is that “we bridge pathways to possibility,” meaning every path a young person takes is not only a bridge forward but a way back to help others. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new experiences, inspiring a culture of openness and audacity in the youth she serves. Her commitment is to empower youth to navigate their own paths respectably, boldly, and productively for the benefit of their communities.
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Board Member, Senior Program Director
Jamie Dawson (aka DawsonTheArtist) is an award-winning spoken word poet and professional performer based in Tampa, Florida. Her powerful poetry and music inspire, heal, and entertain audiences worldwide, with works showcased alongside cultural icons like Rupi Kaur and The Last Poets. Jamie’s internationally recognized project, God is At Your Feet, earned her the Arthur Flowers Fellowship to the Disquiet Literary Program in Lisbon, Portugal.
A Tampa native, Jamie developed her craft with the Heard 'Em Say Youth Arts Collective and made history competing in the Hillsborough County Poetry Jam, qualifying four times for the internationally competing Tampa youth poetry slam team. With over nine years as a dynamic performance artist, she weaves Black life, multiculturalism, women’s rights, and healing into her work. Her mission centers on using poetry, music, and storytelling to educate, empower, and strengthen communities.
Currently, Jamie is working on The Vudoo Man, a multigenerational memoir project exploring life in Tampa. Her passion for storytelling and community activism aligns closely with Quori’s Kids’ vision to empower youth and bridge pathways to possibility. Known affectionately as a poetic social light, Jamie inspires youth and audiences by creating spaces of healing and growth rooted in authenticity and cultural pride.
When not performing, Jamie often captures moments of beauty in everyday life — a stranger photographing the sky — reflecting her deep connection to the world and ongoing curiosity.
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Board Member
A proud Tampa native and lifelong community leader, Bentley Tanner began his musical journey in 2007 with Middleton High School’s Mighty Marching Lions and has been committed to youth development ever since. From his early days as a student leader in the bandroom to serving as a drum major in both high school and at North Carolina A&T State University, Bentley has always used music as a bridge for mentorship, discipline, and creativity.
Now a drum major instructor at his alma mater and founder of the Bentley Duvall Scholarship Fund, Bentley continues to invest in the next generation of leaders through education, performance, and empowerment. As an original board member of Quori’s Kids, Bentley has played a key role in shaping the organization’s programs, visibility, and structure. In partnership with Quori’s Kids, he launched the Bentley Duvall Scholarship Awards, which provide direct support to student leaders.
Committed to the belief that leadership, creativity, and service build strong communities, Bentley’s impact reflects the very mission of Quori’s Kids—to bridge gaps, nurture talent, and create sustainable pathways for youth success.
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Board Member
“THE CHASE FOR WEALTH IS SIMPLY THE COMMON DESIRE FOR PERMANANT STABILITY AND LIMITLESS CREATIVE FREEDOM.”
Quote Source
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