Aging Adult Coordinator/Director
Fatimah Shabazz
(She/Her)
Your Core Approach & Areas of Focus
My work in holistic wellness is rooted in both lived experience and a deep passion for helping people reconnect with themselves mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I am a feminine health and wellness practitioner and educator who focuses on creating safe, supportive spaces for healing, self-awareness, and empowerment.
My approach combines meditation, breath-work, light somatic practices, and spiritual healing techniques that encourage grounding, emotional release, stress reduction, and inner balance. I believe wellness is not one-size-fits-all, and I work from a heart-centered, community-based perspective that honors each person’s individual journey, culture, and life experiences.
What Guides Your Work?
The fundamental belief behind how I support Clients is that healing and growth begin in a space where individuals feel sage, respected, and truly heard. I believe that everyone has the capacity for change, and my role is to empower clients to recognize their own strengths and build the skills necessary to overcome life’s challenges. I also recognize the deep connection between mental, emotional, and physical well-being, and I strive to support the whole person in their journey toward wellness.
What Makes Your Support Effective?
I believe the biggest difference in the way I support aging adults is my ability to genuinely connect with people through compassion, patience, active listening, and consistency. I approach each person with respect and understanding, making it a priority to help them feel comfortable, heard, and supported throughout the process of getting started with Kindred Harbor. People often appreciate that I am approachable, dependable, understanding, and solution-oriented, while taking the time to listen carefully, follow through on commitments, and create a welcoming experience. My background in community programs, senior services, wellness education, and project management has strengthened my ability to build meaningful relationships and help aging adults feel valued, empowered, and cared for.
Your Journey to Providing Mental Wellness Services
My initial moment began at an early age noticing that people found it easy to speak to me. I initially majored in psychology and wanted to make a difference in the lives of others; however, I realized I was also an empathic person and felt it would be too much on me emotionally and decided to major in engineering another passion of mine. As the years went on my calling in this field followed me and placed me where I am today fulfilling something that is much needed in or community.
What You Find Most Rewarding
The most fulfilling part of this work for me is being able to bring comfort, connection, and genuine care into the lives of aging adults. Many seniors simply want to feel seen, heard, remembered, and valued, and being someone who can provide that sense of support and compassion is deeply meaningful to me. I truly enjoy listening to their stories, learning from their life experiences, and building relationships that go beyond services or appointments. Knowing that my presence, consistency, and kindness can brighten someone’s day, ease stress, restore dignity, or remind them that they are not part of “The Forgotten” and they are not alone is what makes this work so rewarding to my heart.
Qualifications & Credentials
My professional background is rooted in both community service and leadership. I have a background in Mechanical Engineering and have spent over 15 years working in social services, community engagement, and project management focused on improving the quality of life for individuals and families throughout the community.
I also have extensive experience working with youth and families through educational and enrichment programs. I served as a Program Director for a STEM program through the Boy Scouts of America, where I helped educate and mentor youth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while creating positive learning environments that encouraged leadership, creativity, and confidence.
Beyond Your Credentials
When meeting an aging adult for the first time, I approach the interaction with patience, compassion, professionalism, and respect, understanding that I am entering someone’s personal space during a vulnerable time in their life. I focus on creating an environment where they feel comfortable, safe, heard, and valued while building trust and genuine connection beyond simply discussing services or paperwork. I take time to listen carefully, understand their individual needs and experiences, and support them in a way that helps maintain their independence, dignity, connection, and overall quality of life while ensuring they feel genuinely cared for throughout their journey with Kindred Harbor.
Outside of work, I genuinely enjoy wellness, creativity, community connection, and spending meaningful time with family. I am passionate about holistic wellness practices such as meditation, breath-work, and creating peaceful spaces that encourage healing and balance.
I also enjoy working on community projects, and finding ways to bring people together such as coordinating events and hosting workshops. All of these things keep me grounded in which why this work matters.
Your Unique Strength
I view this part of my role as extremely important because strong community relationships are the foundation of meaningful support for aging adults. I believe in building trust, consistency, and positive relationships within the facilities and communities we serve, while representing the values and mission of Kindred Harbor with professionalism, compassion, communication, and reliability. My experience in community programs, senior services, project management, and wellness education has taught me that successful programs are built through connection and partnership. I take pride in helping bridge gaps between resources, staff, facilities, and aging adults while creating a welcoming and supportive environment where people feel comfortable seeking support and collaboration.
Off-Duty Well-Being
-Being with my family always makes me feel whole and rejuvenated, counting the blessings that others may take for granted or don’t have.
-Walking at a park and taking in the fresh air on warm days makes me feel part of nature and connects me to other parts of myself.
-Doing and planning art activities puts me in my zone that allows me to escape to a peaceful place.